Shamrock Rovers will be bidding to return to the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division when they welcome Dundalk to Tallaght Stadium on Friday night.

The home side are currently second in the table, one point behind leaders Derry City, while Dundalk occupy fifth position, four points behind third-placed Bohemians in the race for European qualification.

Match preview

Shamrock have won the League of Ireland/League of Ireland Premier Division on 20 occasions, which is a record, and they have lifted the championship in each of the last three years.

Success is expected again this season, and Rovers have made a relatively solid start to the campaign, picking up 33 points from 18 matches to occupy second position, one point behind the leaders Derry City.

Stephen Bradley's side will enter this match off the back of successive losses, though, having been beaten by Drogheda United and Cork City on May 19 and May 26 respectively.

Shamrock have a busy June, playing six times in the league, and they will be desperate to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters on Friday night.

The Hoops ran out 4-0 winners over Dundalk when the two sides last locked horns at the end of March, while they also recoded a 3-0 victory at Tallaght Stadium back in August.

Dundalk, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 defeat at St Patrick's Athletic, and they have only managed to claim one point from their last three matches.

The Lilywhites were last victorious on May 12, recording a 2-1 victory over Cork City, and a record of 26 points from 18 matches has left them in fifth position in the table.

Stephen O'Donnell's side are three points behind St Patrick's Athletic and four behind third-placed Bohemians, who are currently in a position to qualify for the Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Dundalk have had mixed results on their travels this season, winning three, drawing two and losing four of their nine matches, and they will be taking on a Shamrock outfit that boast a record of four wins, three draws an two defeats from their nine games in front of their own supporters.

Team News

Shamrock incredibly had three players sent off in their defeat to Cork City last time out, so Sean Hoare, Johnny Kenny and Richard Towell are all suspended for this match.

Neil Farrugia picked up a milestone yellow card in the same match, so the midfielder will also be missing, while Trevor Clarke, Alan Mannus and Dylan Watts are out through injury.

Rory Gaffney has been the team's main source of goals this season, netting nine times in all competitions, and he will continue in the final third, while there should also be another start for Graham Burke.

As for Dundalk, Robbie Benson, Andy Boyle and John Mountney will miss the game through injury.

Rayhaan Tulloch became the team's leading goalscorer this season (five) when he netted against St Patrick's Athletic last time out, and the 22-year-old should now come in for a start.

Patrick Hoban has four goals this season and is expected to also feature in the final third of the field, while there should be another start in midfield for John Martin.

Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pohls; Cleary, Pico, Gannon; Finn, Poom, O'Neill, Kavanagh; Byrne, Gaffney, Burke

Dundalk possible starting lineup:
Shepperd; Davies, Muller, Williams, McCourt; Martin, Malley, Yli-Kokko, O'Kane; Hoban, Tulloch

We say: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Dundalk

Shamrock will be missing some important players for this match through suspension, but we are still expecting the home side to triumph. Rovers will be desperate to bounce back from successive defeats and should have too much quality for Dundalk in Friday night's contest.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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