DUNDALK FC SHAMROCK ROVERS FC. vs. MATCH PRESS KIT AIRTRICITY LEAGUE DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL

Transcription

1 DUNDALKFC.COM: OFFICIAL DUNDALK FC vs. SHAMROCK ROVERS FC AIRTRICITY LEAGUE Premier Division Series 10 Monday 2 May 2011, 2pm

2 Contents 2-4 Match background 12/13 League statistics 5 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news Match-by-match lineups 6/7 Squad and management information 18/19 Team facts 8/9 Results & fixtures information 20 Head-to-head 10/11 League tables This press kit includes information relating to this Airtricity League Premier Division match. Match background Dundalk will be out to put their opening-day defeat behind them when they welcome league leaders Shamrock Rovers to Oriel Park on May Bank Holiday Monday afternoon (kick-off 2pm), the Lilywhites currently lying in seventh place while Rovers set the pace by two points, Derry City their nearest challengers. Of their seven league defeats on the way to winning the Premier Division title last season, Rovers fell three times at the hands of Dundalk, including twice at Oriel Park. Michael O Neill s men have already visited the border venue this term, when goals from debutant Gary O Neill and young midfielder Colm Corcoran saw them progress to the quarter-finals of the Leinster Senior Cup on a 2-0 scoreline back on 22 February. The sides also went to battle on the first day of the league season at Tallaght Stadium, but the 23rd-minute sending off of Peter Cherrie proved the turning point after Dundalk had dominated the opening quarter. Jason Byrne put Dundalk in front from the spot just before half-time but Gary McCabe quickly cancelled out that advantage, with an early second-half double from Gary Twigg seeing the Hoops run out comfortable 3-1 winners. Overall, since returning to the Premier Division in 2009, Dundalk have won three, drawn one and lost five of the nine encounters, scoring 15 goals and conceding 19. This is the 173rd league meeting of the clubs, since they first met back on 11 September 1926 when they drew 3-3 in Dublin. Rovers hold the upper hand with 72 wins to Dundalk s 55, with 45 draws, the Louth club scoring 240 goals to the Hoops 294. Interestingly, in Ian Foster s 105 games as a manager between Galway United and Dundalk, Twigg has done the most damage, scoring nine goals against the Liverpudlian s sides. Dundalk s top scorer after 17 competitive games this year is Mark Quigley, with eight goals. In total: 8 Quigley, 6 Daniel Kearns, 5 Byrne, 3 Ross Gaynor, 1 Shane Guthrie, Johnny Breen, Colin Hawkins & Keith Ward. Byrne and Twigg are among four players sitting second in the overall league scoring charts with four goals, along with Derry City s Gareth McGlynn and Bohemians Anto Flood. James McClean s goal against Bohs on Friday sees him out 2

3 on his own at the top with five. Eight different players have scored in the league for Rovers, sharing 15 goals, while six have been on the mark for Dundalk, sharing 12 goals. This is Dundalk s 18th competitive game of the year with their record reading: P17 W7 D5 L5 F26 A24. It is Rovers 16th match, with their record as follows: P15 W11 D3 L1 F29 A8. Dundalk have been awarded one penalty this season, and have a 100 percent strike rate, Byrne netting away to Rovers on 4 March. Rovers have had two spot-kicks, Gary McCabe missing at home to Saint Patrick s Athletic on 18 March, with Dean Kelly converting against the Saints in last Monday s League Cup second round tie. Dundalk have conceded five spot-kicks, including two at home to Glentoran on 21 March and two away to Linfield on 14 February. For Glens, Andrew Waterworth missed the first but Matthew Burrows netted the second. For Linfield, Peter Thompson scored the first but Cherrie saved his second, although Robert Garrett put in the rebound. The other was at home to Galway when Joseph Yoffe scored. Rovers have conceded two, with both successful as Byrne s and Daniel North s, for St. Pat s in the aforementioned cup tie, found the net. Mark Griffin s start against Monaghan United in the League Cup last Monday means that every member of Foster s 19-man senior panel has now started a competitive game this year. Rovers have used a total of 30 players this season compared to Dundalk s 22. Captain Simon Madden is the only player to have played every minute of Dundalk s 17 competitive games to date. No player has appeared in all 15 of Rovers games. Cherrie remains the only Dundalk player sent-off this season. Rovers have also had one, McCabe dismissed ten minutes from the end of their Dublin derby against Bohemians at Dalymount Park on 15 April. Dundalk have four ex-hoops in their ranks Madden, Guthrie, Quigley and Stephen Maher. Rovers have one ex-lilywhite, Chris Turner, while Conor McCormack trained with the Oriel Park club last summer to keep fit during the Italian off season. Dundalk are the only team in the Premier Division that still boast an unbeaten home record, with two wins and three draws from five outings. However, only Drogheda have a worse away record, with Dundalk s first win on the road coming 11 days ago with a come-from-behind victory at United Park. 3

4 Rovers, in contrast, are unbeaten after five away trips beating Sligo Rovers, Drogheda United and Galway United, and drawing with Derry City and Bohemians. Rovers have won three against Dundalk, Saint Patrick s Athletic and UCD and lost one against Bray of their four outings at Tallaght Stadium. At the half-time break, Dundalk have been winning twice, drawing five times and losing twice. The only times they have been ahead were at home to UCD, which they won, and away to St. Pat s, which they lost. Rovers have been ahead four times, level four times and losing once. The only time they have been behind was against Bray at Tallaght Stadium when they went on to lose the game 1-0. In the second half, Dundalk have also won twice, drawn five times and lost twice, their wins coming against Galway and Drogheda. Rovers have yet to be in a worse position at the end than they were at half-time, as they have won four and drawn five of their nine second halves, scoring ten of their 15 goals after the break. Dundalk are the fourth-highest scorers in the league with 12 goals, sitting behind St. Pat s (13), Derry (15) and Rovers (15). They also have the joint-third worst defence, conceding 13 goals, two less than Galway (15) and five less than Drogheda (18). Rovers have the best defence in the league having conceded just four. Dundalk have scored in 13 of their 17 games only failing to net against Rovers (in LSC), Bohemians, Derry and Bray. Friday s scoreless draw against Bray was just their third clean-sheet of the year, having also kept one away to Glentoran and at home to Bohs. Rovers have scored in 13 of their 15 games, failing to net away to Derry and at home to Bray. They have kept eight clean-sheets. Dundalk have done most of their scoring in the minute bracket, netting three of their 12 goals in that time. They have also conceded most of their goals in that period, shipping four of their total of 13. Rovers have scored four of their 15 goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, while they have conceded their four goals at different intervals, the earliest one, against Bray, coming in the sixth minute when they went on to lose the game. Dundalk s quickest goal this season came when Byrne shot them into a seventhminute lead at home to Sligo. Rovers fastest goal came in their second league outing, away to Sligo, when McCabe fired them ahead after six minutes. Foster and O Neill have both fielded the same team in successive games on three occasions. Matthew Blinkhorn s goal for Sligo Rovers against UCD on Friday was the 100th scored in this season s Premier Division. 4

5 Latest match, injury/disciplinary news Dundalk Last Match: Friday 29 April: Dundalk 0-0 Bray Wanderers Jason Byrne was denied a late penalty and then stretchered off as Dundalk had to settle for a share of the spoils in a drab scoreless draw against Bray Wanderers at Oriel Park on Friday night. In a poor first half, there were few chances, Conor Murphy seeing his shot from outside the box held by Peter Cherrie before Byrne blasted over a Simon Madden cross from ten-yards. Byrne was again involved on the hour when his overhead kick went over before Jake Kelly forced Cherrie to push around the post. With six minutes remaining, Michael Hector hit the post following a clever piece of play by Mark Quigley, before Byrne was fouled, but the referee waved away the loud protests. Injury/Disciplinary news Speaking on Saturday evening, Foster gave his current team news for the game. Dundalk will again be without Greg Bolger (thigh), Stephen Maher (groin) and Eoghan Osborne (broken leg). Shane Guthrie (blurred vision & concussion) and Dean Bennett (hamstring) are rated very doubtful. Colin Hawkins (hamstring), Daniel Kearns (pleurisy) and Jason Byrne (Achilles) are doubtful and will be assessed on Sunday morning when the squad complete their preparations. Foster has no suspension worries. Miscellaneous Captain Simon Madden celebrated his 23rd birthday on Sunday, 1 May. Shamrock Rovers Last Match: Friday 29 April: Galway United 0-1 Shamrock Rovers (Sheppard 7) Karl Sheppard returned to haunt his former club as his seventh-minute header was enough to give Shamrock Rovers a valuable 1-0 victory over Galway United on the striker s first return to Terryland Park since leaving during the winter. The 20-year-old forward shot himself to the top of the Hoops scoring charts when Gary McCabe s cross from the right wing was met by the former Everton youngster who headed a fine effort past Greg Fleming. Sheppard then turned provider as he found Gary O Neill who forced a superb save from the Galway stopper. Galway had their chances, Seán Kelly s long-range shot going wide of the target, while Alan Murphy saw visiting keeper Alan Mannus gather a curling shot before a late free-kick went the wrong side of the post. Ronan Finn could have added a second for Michael O Neill s men in the dying seconds, but Sheppard s early effort was enough to see the Tallaght-based club finish the first series of games on an impressive total of 20 points. Injury/Disciplinary news Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O Neill has no suspensions to contend with. However, Chris Turner (calf), Gary Twigg, Stephen O Donnell and Craig Sives (all hamstring) are sidelined through injury. Miscellaneous Shamrock Rovers midfielder Conor McCormack is from Greenore, just north of Dundalk. 5

6 Squad and management information Dundalk (Statistics from ALL Competitions) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 Peter Cherrie SCO Paul Murphy IRL Defenders 2 Simon Madden IRL Eoghan Osborne IRL Colin Hawkins IRL Michael Hector ENG Nathan Murphy IRL Shane Guthrie IRL Cian Byrne IRL Midfielders 4 Dean Bennett ENG Daniel Kearns IRL Stephen Maher IRL Ross Gaynor IRL Greg Bolger IRL Stephen McDonnell IRL Keith Ward IRL Philip Duffy IRL Chris Kerr IRL Forwards 9 Mark Quigley IRL Jason Byrne IRL Mark Griffin IRL Johnny Breen IRL Management - Ian Foster ENG Darius Kierans IRL

7 Squad and management information Shamrock Rovers (Statistics from ALL Competitions) No. Player Nat. DoB Age Apps. Starts Goals Assists Goalkeepers 1 Alan Mannus NIR Ryan Thompson JAM Robert Hughes IRL Defenders 2 Pat Sullivan IRL Enda Stevens IRL Craig Sives SCO Dan Murray ENG Pat Flynn IRL Ken Oman IRL Michael Doyle IRL Seán Gannon IRL Jack Memery IRL Jeff Flood IRL Midfielders 6 Stephen Rice IRL Gary McCabe IRL Stephen O Donnell IRL Paddy Kavanagh IRL Chris Turner NIR Billy Dennehy IRL Ronan Finn IRL Conor McCormack IRL Colm Corcoran IRL Keith Kinsella IRL Eoin Murray IRL Seán Byrne IRL Paul Connolly IRL Forwards 9 Gary Twigg SCO Karl Sheppard IRL Ciarán Kilduff IRL Dean Kelly IRL Gary O Neill IRL Darragh Satelle IRL Management - Michael O Neill NIR Trevor Croly IRL

8 Results & fixture information Dundalk (Formline: DLWWLDWWLD) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers SSC 14/02/11 Linfield (A) 5-3 Kearns 31, 66, 92, Quigley 54, 75 LSC 22/02/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) 0-2 SSC 28/02/11 Linfield (H) 1-1 Gaynor 11 League 04/03/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) 1-3 Byrne 44 (pen) SSC 07/03/11 Glentoran (A) 1-0 Quigley 82 League 11/03/11 Galway United (H) 3-2 Quigley 18, Byrne 71, Guthrie 87 League 18/03/11 Bohemians (H) 0-0 SSC 21/03/11 Glentoran (H) 1-1 Gaynor 80 League 25/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 2-3 Quigley 17, 48 League 01/04/11 UCD (H) 3-1 Gaynor 42, Kearns 45, Byrne 72 SSC 04/04/11 Cliftonville (A) 3-1 Quigley 48, 82, Kearns 73 League 08/04/11 Derry City (A) 0-2 League 15/04/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 1-1 Byrne 7 SSC 18/04/11 Cliftonville (H) 2-1 Byrne 67, Breen 90+3 League 22/04/11 Drogheda United (A) 2-1 Hawkins 56, Kearns 83 LCup 25/04/11 Monaghan United (A) 1-2 (AET) Ward 21 League 29/04/11 Bray Wanderers (H) 0-0 League 02/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 06/05/11 Galway United (A) League 09/05/11 Bohemians (A) SSC 14/05/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 20/05/11 UCD (A) League 26/05/11 Derry City (H) League 30/05/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 10/06/11 Drogheda United (H) League 13/06/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 17/06/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 20/06/11 Shamrock Rovers (A) League 24/06/11 Galway United (H) League 01/07/11 Bohemians (H) League 08/07/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) League 15/07/11 UCD (H) League 22/07/11 Derry City (A) League 05/08/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 12/08/11 Drogheda United (A) League 19/08/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 03/09/11 Shamrock Rovers (H) League 09/09/11 Galway United (A) League 12/09/11 Bohemians (A) League 23/09/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 30/09/11 UCD (A) League 08/10/11 Derry City (H) League 15/10/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 21/10/11 Drogheda United (H) League 28/10/11 Bray Wanderers (A) 8

9 Results & fixture information Shamrock Rovers (Formline: WDWLWDWWDW) Comp. Date Opponent Res. Goalscorers LSC 22/02/11 Dundalk (A) 2-0 O Neill 35, Corcoran 78 League 04/03/11 Dundalk (H) 3-1 McCabe 45, Twigg 50, 56 League 12/03/11 Sligo Rovers (A) 1-0 McCabe 6 SSC 14/03/11 Lisburn Distillery (A) 3-0 Sheppard 35, Kilduff 40, Kelly 67 League 18/03/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) 2-0 Turner 11, Oman 81 SSC 22/03/11 Lisburn Distillery (H) 4-2 Kilduff 42, Rice 47, Kavanagh 81, 88 League 25/03/11 Derry City (A) 0-0 League 01/04/11 Drogheda United (A) 4-0 Twigg 28, 56, Kilduff 49, Dennehy 73 League 08/04/11 Bray Wanderers (H) 0-1 SSC 11/04/11 Sligo Rovers (A) 2-0 Finn 27, Sheppard 58 League 15/04/11 Bohemians (A) 1-1 Finn 90+4 SSC 19/04/11 Sligo Rovers (H) 2-1 Sheppard 8, Dennehy 25 League 22/04/11 UCD (H) 3-1 Sheppard 69, Finn 73, Dennehy 83 LCup 25/04/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) 1-1 Kelly 58 (pen); Lost 3-1 on penalties League 29/04/11 Galway United (A) 1-0 Sheppard 7 League 02/05/11 Dundalk (A) League 06/05/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 09/05/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) SSC 14/05/11 Dundalk (H) League 20/05/11 Drogheda United (H) League 26/05/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 31/05/11 Bohemians (H) League 10/06/11 UCD (A) League 13/06/11 Derry City (H) League 17/06/11 Galway United (H) League 21/06/11 Dundalk (H) League 25/06/11 Sligo Rovers (A) League 01/07/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (H) League 08/07/11 Derry City (A) League 15/07/11 Drogheda United (A) League 22/07/11 Bray Wanderers (H) League 05/08/11 Bohemians (A) League 12/08/11 UCD (H) League 19/08/11 Galway United (A) League 03/09/11 Dundalk (A) League 09/09/11 Sligo Rovers (H) League 12/09/11 Saint Patrick s Athletic (A) League 23/09/11 Derry City (H) League 30/09/11 Drogheda United (H) League 09/10/11 Bray Wanderers (A) League 14/10/11 Bohemians (H) League 21/10/11 UCD (A) League 28/10/11 Galway United (H) 9

10 League tables Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Shamrock Rovers Derry City Bray Wanderers Bohemians Sligo Rovers Saint Patrick s Athletic Dundalk UCD Galway United Drogheda United HOME Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Shamrock Rovers Dundalk Saint Patrick s Athletic Bray Wanderers Sligo Rovers Derry City Bohemians UCD Drogheda United Galway United AWAY Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Derry City Shamrock Rovers Bohemians Bray Wanderers Sligo Rovers UCD Saint Patrick s Athletic Galway United Dundalk Drogheda United

11 League tables FIRST 45 MINUTES Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Derry City Shamrock Rovers Bray Wanderers Saint Patrick s Athletic Sligo Rovers Dundalk Bohemians Drogheda United UCD Galway United SECOND 45 MINUTES Pos. Club Pld W D L GF GA Pts 1 Shamrock Rovers Derry City Bohemians Sligo Rovers Saint Patrick s Athletic Dundalk Bray Wanderers Galway United UCD Drogheda United

12 League statistics Goals scored Player Club Total James McClean Derry City 5 Gary Twigg Shamrock Rovers 4 Gareth McGlynn Derry City 4 Jason Byrne Dundalk 4 Anthony Flood Bohemians 4 Mark Quigley Dundalk 3 John Dillon Sligo Rovers 3 Danny O Connor Bray Wanderers 3 Conor Murphy Bray Wanderers 3 Eamon Zayed Derry City 3 Daniel Lafferty Derry City 3 Daniel Kearns Dundalk 2 Gary McCabe Shamrock Rovers 2 David McMillan Saint Patrick s Athletic 2 Evan McMillan Saint Patrick s Athletic 2 Jake Kelly Bray Wanderers 2 Joseph Yoffe Galway United 2 Seán Kelly Galway United 2 Alan Kirby Sligo Rovers 2 Ronan Finn Shamrock Rovers 2 Billy Dennehy Shamrock Rovers 2 Robbie Benson UCD 2 Graham Rusk UCD 2 Karl Sheppard Shamrock Rovers 2 Daniel North Saint Patrick s Athletic 2 Daryl Kavanagh Saint Patrick s Athletic 2 Anthony Murphy Saint Patrick s Athletic 2 Other selected players from Dundalk & Shamrock Rovers Shane Guthrie Dundalk 1 Ross Gaynor Dundalk 1 Colin Hawkins Dundalk 1 Ken Oman Shamrock Rovers 1 Chris Turner Shamrock Rovers 1 Ciarán Kilduff Shamrock Rovers 1 Goal times Time Goals Average Between minute 1 and % Between minute 16 and % Between minute 31 and % In additional time 1st half 1 1% Between minute 46 and % Between minute 61 and % Between minute 76 and % In additional time 2nd half 2 2% Total Goals per Game 12

13 Scoring times Club League statistics Minutes ST ST2 Tot Sham. Rovers Derry City St. Pat s Ath Dundalk Bray Wand Bohemians Sligo Rovers UCD Drogheda Utd Galway Utd TOTAL Concession times Club Minutes ST ST2 Tot Drogheda Utd Galway Utd Dundalk UCD St. Pat s Ath Bray Wand Bohemians Derry City Sligo Rovers Sham. Rovers TOTAL

14 Match-by-match lineups Dundalk Linfield Dundalk 3-5 Windsor Park, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Kearns 31, 1-1 Thompson 43 (pen), 1-2 Quigley 54, 2-2 Garrett 62, 2-3 Kearns 66, 2-4 Quigley 75, 3-4 Allen 81, 3-5 Kearns 92 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Bennett, Hawkins, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (McDonnell 85), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Maher, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Goals: 0-1 O Neill 35, 0-2 Corcoran 78 Glentoran: Cherrie, Madden, Osborne (N Murphy 78), Guthrie, Hawkins, McDonnell (Kearns 67), Ward, Gaynor, Bolger, Quigley (Griffin 78), Breen. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK) Dundalk Linfield 1-1 Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 11, 1-1 Gault 45+1 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Guthrie, Hawkins, Osborne, Bennett, Bolger (Ward 81), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor (Maher 61), Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Breen Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 3-1 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Byrne 44 (pen), 1-1 McCabe 45, 2-1 Twigg 50, 3-1 Twigg 56 Glentoran: Cherrie, Madden, Osborne (Hector 50), Hawkins, Guthrie, Kearns, Bennett, Bolger (Maher 81), Gaynor, Byrne, Quigley (P Murphy 24). Unused Subs: N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Breen Glentoran Dundalk 0-1 The Oval, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hector, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, Maher, Kearns, Quigley, Ward (McDonnell 90), Byrne (Breen 88). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Bolger, Griffin Dundalk Galway United 3-2 Goals: 1-0 Quigley 18, 1-1 Yoffe 21 (pen), 2-1 Byrne 71, 2-2 Seán Kelly 77, 3-2 Guthrie 87 Dundalk: P Murphy, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett (Maher 45+1), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: McDonnell, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Bohemians 0-0 Goals: - Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Maher, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, McDonnell (Breen 70), Byrne. 14

15 Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, McSorley, Duffy, Trainor, Hutchinson Dundalk Glentoran 1-1 Goals: 0-1 Burrows 60 (pen), 1-1 Gaynor 80 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bolger (Maher 65), Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen St. Patrick s Athletic Dundalk 3-2 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Quigley 17, 0-2 Quigley 48, 1-2 D McMillan 59, 2-2 E McMillan 62, 3-2 Mulcahy 90 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, Bolger, Ward (Maher 63), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), McDonnell, Griffin, Breen Dundalk UCD 3-1 Goals: 1-0 Gaynor 42, 2-0 Kearns 45, 2-1 Corry 69, 3-1 Byrne 72 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley (Griffin 87), Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 83). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector Cliftonville Dundalk 1-3 Solitude, Belfast Goals: 1-0 McMullan 25, 1-1 Quigley 48, 1-2 Kearns 73, 1-3 Quigley 82 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 82). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin Derry City Dundalk 2-0 The Brandywell, Derry Goals: 1-0 McGlynn 31, 2-0 Zayed 36 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Guthrie, N Murphy, Bennett, McDonnell (Ward 76), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Hector, Griffin, Breen Dundalk Sligo Rovers 1-1 Goals: 1-0 Byrne 7, 1-1 Peers 32 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, Bennett (Ward 38), McDonnell, Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Breen 81). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy Dundalk Cliftonville 2-1 Goals: 0-1 O Connor 59, 1-1 Byrne 67, 2-1 Breen 90+3 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Kearns (Breen 77), Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy, Kerr. 15

16 Drogheda United Dundalk 1-2 United Park, Drogheda Goals: 1-0 Corcoran 25, 1-1 Hawkins 56, 1-2 Kearns 83 Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward (Breen 73), Kearns, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne. Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Griffin, Duffy, Kerr Monaghan United Dundalk 2-1 AET Gortakeegan, Monaghan Goals: 0-1 Ward 21, 1-1 P Byrne 80, 2-1 O Brien 99 Dundalk: P Murphy, Madden, C Byrne, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Duffy (Kearns 60), Ward, Kerr (Gaynor 60), Griffin (Quigley 74), Breen. Unused Subs: Cherrie (GK), J Byrne, Hutchinson Dundalk Bray Wanderers 0-0 Goals: - Dundalk: Cherrie, Madden, Hawkins, Hector, N Murphy, McDonnell, Ward, Quigley, Gaynor, Byrne (Duffy 88), Breen (Griffin 61). Unused Subs: P Murphy (GK), Kerr, Hutchinson. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. Match-by-match lineups Shamrock Rovers Dundalk Shamrock Rovers 0-2 Goals: 0-1 O Neill 35, 0-2 Corcoran 78 Shamrock Rovers: Hughes, Doyle, Sives (Gannon HT), Flynn, Memery, Byrne, O Donnell, Corcoran, Kavanagh, Kilduff, O Neill (Connolly 74). Unused Subs: Branagan Shamrock Rovers Dundalk 3-1 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Byrne 44 (pen), 1-1 McCabe 45, 2-1 Twigg 50, 3-1 Twigg 56 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe, Finn, Turner (Rice 78), Dennehy (Kavanagh 71), Twigg, O Neill (Kelly 83). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, McCormack, Corcoran Sligo Rovers Shamrock Rovers 0-1 The Showgrounds, Sligo Goals: 0-1 McCabe 6 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman (Flynn 45), Stevens, McCabe, Turner, Finn, Dennehy, Twigg (Rice 86), O Neill (Kilduff 77). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Kavanagh, Kelly, McCormack Distillery Shamrock Rovers 0-3 New Grosvenor, Belfast Goals: 0-1 Sheppard 35, 0-2 Kilduff 40, 0-3 Kelly 67 Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, McCormack, Stevens (Sullivan 62), Flynn, Oman, Rice, O Donnell, Kelly, Kavanagh, Kilduff, Sheppard. 16

17 Unused Subs: Mannus (GK), McCabe, Twigg, Turner, Finn, Dennehy Shamrock Rovers St. Pat s Ath 2-0 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 1-0 Turner 11, 2-0 Oman 81 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe, Turner, Finn (Rice 72), Dennehy, Twigg (Sheppard 82), O Neill (Kilduff 65). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, O Donnell, Kavanagh Shamrock Rovers Distillery 4-2 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Browne 14, 1-1 Kilduff 42, 2-1 Rice 47, 2-2 Liggett 56, 3-2 Kavanagh 81, 4-2 Kavanagh 88 Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, McCormack, Doyle, Flynn, Murray (Sullivan 63), Rice, O Donnell, Kelly (Finn 73), Kavanagh, Kilduff, Sheppard. Unused Subs: Mannus (GK), Stevens, McCabe, Twigg, Dennehy Derry City Shamrock Rovers 0-0 The Brandywell, Derry Goals: - Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Kavanagh 55), Turner, Dennehy, Finn, O Neill (Kilduff 62), Twigg (O Donnell 75). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Sheppard, Rice Drogheda U Shamrock Rovers 0-4 United Park, Drogheda Goals: 0-1 Twigg 28, 0-2 Kilduff 49, 0-3 Twigg 56, 0-4 Dennehy 73 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Murray, Oman (Flynn 59), Stevens, Sullivan, Dennehy, Finn (McCormack 78), Rice, McCabe, Twigg, Kilduff (Sheppard 76). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), O Neill, Kelly, Kavanagh Shamrock Rovers Bray W 0-1 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 0-1 D O Connor 6 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Sheppard 58), Rice, Finn, Dennehy, Twigg (O Neill 37), Kilduff (Kelly 75). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, McCormack, Kavanagh Sligo Rovers Shamrock Rovers 0-2 The Showgrounds, Sligo Goals: 0-1 Finn 27, 0-2 Sheppard 58 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Stevens, Oman, Murray, Rice, McCormack, Finn, Kelly (Dennehy 66), O Neill (Kilduff 74), Sheppard (Kavanagh 88). Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), McCabe, Gannon, Corcoran Bohemians Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Dalymount Park, Dublin Goals: 1-0 Buckley 72, 1-1 Finn 90+4 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Stevens, Oman, Murray (Kilduff 83), Rice (McCabe 63), Finn, McCormack, Sheppard, Kelly (Dennehy 76), O Neill. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Gannon, Kavanagh, Corcoran. 17

18 Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers 2-1 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Doyle 4, 1-1 Sheppard 8, 2-1 Dennehy 25 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Stevens, Oman, Murray, Rice, McCormack (McCabe 63), Finn, Dennehy (Kavanagh 79), O Neill (Kelly 70), Sheppard. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Kilduff, Flynn, Corcoran Shamrock Rovers UCD 3-1 Tallaght Stadium, Dublin Goals: 1-0 Sheppard 69, 2-0 Finn 73, 2-1 Benson 82, 3-1 Dennehy 83 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, Kavanagh (Kilduff 53), McCormack (Rice 53), Finn (Corcoran 85), Dennehy, Sheppard, O Neill. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Doyle, Kelly St. Pat s Ath Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Richmond Park, Dublin Goals: 0-1 Kelly 58 (pen), 1-1 North 88 (pen) St. Pat s win 3-1 on penalties Shamrock Rovers: Thompson, Doyle (Flood 59), Memery, Gannon, Flynn, Byrne (Connolly 99), McCormack, Kavanagh (Satelle 85), Corcoran, Kilduff, Kelly. Unused Subs: Hughes (GK), E Murray, Kinsella Galway U Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Terryland Park, Galway Goals: 0-1 Sheppard 7 Shamrock Rovers: Mannus, Sullivan, Murray, Oman, Stevens, McCabe (Kilduff 70), Rice, Finn, Dennehy, O'Neill (Kavanagh 82), Sheppard. Unused Subs: Thompson (GK), Flynn, Kelly, McCormack, Gannon. Note: Players in red signal change to lineup from previous game. 18

19 Team facts Dundalk Domestic club competition honours Dundalk FC has won nine Premier Division titles since joining the League of Ireland in They won their first league in the 1932/33 season but had to wait until 1963 for another one, before winning seven more in a 28-year spell from 1967 to 1995, their last top-flight triumph. They have, however, won two First Division titles in the meantime, the first of those coming in 2001 and the latest in November The Lilywhites have also won nine FAI Cups, the latest coming in their last cup final appearance in Also on the club s roll of honour are four League Cups, although they have not won that competition since Dundalk competed in Europe last July for the first time since Ten-year league record 2010: Premier Division sixth 2009: Premier Division fifth 2008: First Division champions, promoted to the Premier Division 2007: First Division third, beaten by Finn Harps in promotion/relegation playoff semifinal 2006: First Division runners-up, defeated Waterford United in promotion/relegation final 2005: First Division sixth 2004: First Division sixth 2003: First Division ninth 2002/03: First Division tenth 2001/02: Premier Division tenth, relegated to the First Division 2010 season Dundalk made a lightening start to 2010, going unbeaten in their opening six games, during which time they showed a steely determination by coming from 2-0 down at Sligo Rovers to draw 2-2. They were at the top of the pile for close to three months but lost their place at the summit in the final game before the midseason break in June. After returning from two weeks off, Dundalk won just one of their subsequent ten league games, before a run of five wins in seven including a 5-1 hammering of eventual champions Shamrock Rovers and a first victory at Richmond Park in 21 years over a five-week period in September and October ensured a sixth-placed finish. In the FAI Cup, Dundalk exited at the first hurdle, falling to Saint Patrick s Athletic. They made it to the semi-finals of the League Cup, losing 1-0 at Monaghan United. In the Leinster Senior Cup, they defeated Ballymun United before losing on penalties at Bray Wanderers. Meanwhile, in their return to Europe after an eight-year absence, the Lilywhites defeated CS Grevenmacher (Luxembourg) 5-4 on aggregate before bowing out to Levski Sofia (Bulgaria) on an 8-0 scoreline. Records Record League Victory 9-0 (H) vs. Jacobs, 6 February (H) vs. Shelbourne, 27 January 1980 Record League Defeat 1-9 (A) vs. Limerick, 17 December

20 Team facts Shamrock Rovers Domestic club competition honours Shamrock Rovers FC was founded in 1901 and are the most successful club in Irish football history, winning the league title a record 16 times and the FAI Cup a record 24 times. Rovers was founded in Ringsend, Dublin, and won the league at their first attempt in 1922/23. They went on to establish themselves as Ireland s most successful club by 1949, winning 44 trophies. In 1958, they became the first Irish team to compete in European competition, and they followed that up by winning a record six FAI Cups in succession in the 60s. In the 80s, they won four league titles on the bounce. They played at Glenmalure Park from 1926 to 1987 but were homeless up until 2009 when they moved to Tallaght Stadium. Less than two years later, last October, they claimed their first league title since Two weeks later, however, a penalty shootout loss to Sligo Rovers in the final of the FAI Cup meant that their search for a first Cup since 1987 continues. Last season, having finished as runnersup in 09, they competed on the European stage for the first time since Ten-year league record 2010: Premier Division champions 2009: Premier Division second 2008: Premier Division seventh 2007: Premier Division fifth 2006: First Division winners, promoted to the Premier Division 2005: Premier Division 11th, relegated to the First Division 2004: Premier Division ninth 2003: Premier Division seventh 2002/03: Premier Division third 2001/02: Premier Division second 2010 season Shamrock Rovers ended a 16-year wait for a 16th league title by narrowly pipping Bohemians, finishing ahead of their fierce Dublin rivals on only goal difference. The season, however, started with just one point from their opening three games, as they lost back-toback home games against Saint Patrick s Athletic and Dundalk in a five-day spell in mid March. A win in Galway the following week started the revival and they went unbeaten until 3 May when they lost at Oriel Park. They then embarked on a 17-match unbeaten run in the league, including 12 wins, but it would again end in Dundalk as they suffered a 5-1 annihilation on 13 September. Three successive defeats at the beginning of October by UCD, Bohemians and Sporting Fingal almost saw them throw away the title, but they recovered to earn four points from their final two games which was enough to clinch the title. In the FAI Cup, they lost a dramatic penalty shootout to Sligo Rovers in the final at the Aviva Stadium, and they exited the League Cup at the same hands at the semi-final stage. In the Europa League, they lost to Juventus having beaten Bnei Yehuda (Israel), while in the Leinster Senior Cup they were eliminated by Shelbourne in the quarter-finals. Records Record League Victory 11-0 (H) vs. Bray Wanderers, 28 October 1928 Record League Defeat 0-7 (A) vs. Saint James s Gate, 22 April

21 Head-to-head Overall League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Shamrock Rovers At Dundalk League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Shamrock Rovers At Rovers League P W D L F A Pts Shamrock Rovers Dundalk Note: Points not accumulated due to different points system in previous years Last 10 meetings All competitions Comp. Date Res. Goalscorers League 04/03/11 Rovers 3-1 Dundalk McCabe 45, Twigg 50, 55; Byrne 45 (pen) LSC 22/02/11 Dundalk 0-2 Rovers O Neill 35, Corcoran 78 League 13/09/10 Dundalk 5-1 Rovers Miller 3, Kuduzovic 17, Tipton 27, 44, 83; Twigg 60 League 11/07/10 Rovers 4-0 Dundalk Chambers 30, Maher 35 (OG), Twigg 36, Chambers 60 League 03/05/10 Dundalk 2-1 Rovers Fenn 52, Melligan 55; Twigg 82 League 21/03/10 Rovers 0-2 Dundalk Fenn 35, Maher 48 League 23/10/09 Dundalk 2-4 Rovers Turner 51, Williams 83; Robinson 28, Maguire 81, Twigg 85, Baker 90 League 22/08/09 Rovers 2-2 Dundalk Rice 25, Twigg 31; Williams 66, Burns 86 League 02/06/09 Rovers 3-1 Dundalk Twigg 36, 89, Baker 90; Daly 67 League 07/04/09 Dundalk 0-1 Rovers Rice 11 Last 10 meetings All comps. P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Shamrock Rovers Last 10 meetings League P W D L F A Pts Dundalk Shamrock Rovers Dundalk ended a near 13-year wait for a win over Shamrock Rovers in March 2010 when goals in either half from Neale Fenn and Stephen Maher gave them a 2-0 win at Tallaght Stadium. The Lilywhites recorded another win in the return at Oriel Park in May, on a 2-1 scoreline thanks to goals from Fenn and JJ Melligan. Rovers finally got a win on the board when an under-strength and tired Dundalk lost 4-0 in Dublin in July. However, Ian Foster s side responded in incredible fashion at Oriel in September, a hat-trick from Matthew Tipton and goals from Tom Miller and Fahrudin Kuduzovic giving them an unforgettable 5-1 win. The first game of this season ended in a 3-1 win for Rovers in the capital, Peter Cherrie s early sending off proving a major factor. This is the Hoops second visit of the year to Oriel, having won 2-0 in the Leinster Senior Cup in February. 21