Rovers and St Pat’s are hungry for derby spoils
By Stephen Leonard
SHAMROCK Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic lock horns again this Friday in Tallaght Stadium in a battle for three points that would serve very different purposes.
While the Hoops have effectively secured second place in the Premier Division, they will want to preserve their slim hopes of catching defending champions Dundalk who sit ten points clear at the top of the table.
Aaron McEneff insists Rovers need to impose themselves on their rivals.
Pat’s meanwhile will be desperate for a derby win that will keep them in the reckoning for a European berth this season.
Saints full back Simon Madden has stressed the importance of a top-four finish for the Inchicore side, telling The Echo “It’s so important that we get European football, both for attracting players and getting a good budget, so the next few games are going to be massive.
“The result [0-0] against UCD was disappointing, but prior to that we had been on a good run and we were putting up the points. It’s important now that we get a positive result against Rovers.”
Pat’s have yet to chalk up a point against their near neighbours this season, having lost all three of their encounters so far.
“It’s a strange one. We’ve never really turned up in any of the games we played against them this season so we’re due a decent performance” said Madden.
“We’ll have to work hard, really grind it out. Teams that go to Tallaght can get blown away so it’s important that we keep it tight at the back and hopefully nick a goal.
“I think defensively we haven’t given too much away, we just need to score more.
“The players are preparing hard for this game and no one is shying away from the challenge” he stressed.
Shamrock Rovers midfielder Aaron McEneff, meanwhile, believes that a strong homerun to the season is priority for the Hoops.
While reeling in Dundalk remains a mathematical possibility, the former Derry City playmaker insists they will be focusing only on their own remaining fixtures rather than how the Lilywhites are faring.
“All we can do is look after our side of things. Dundalk are 10 points clear so that’s out of our control. We’ve just got to try and keep winning our games” said McEneff.
He is not expecting any-thing easy from derby rivals Pat’s tomorrow.
“They’ve got a new manager since we last played them” he said. “Stephen O’Donnell was a quality player with Dundalk and I’m sure his style of management is not far from his style of play. He’ll want to get the ball down and play.
“Pat’s have quality players, but we’ve got to just go and try to impose ourselves on the game.
“It’s our first home game in a while and the players have been looking sharp in training and just looking forward to our first league match in few weeks.”
And McEneff is only too aware of how hungry Pat’s will be for three points when they come to Tallaght, given the fierce battle for third and fourth place.
“There are a few teams around that spot looking to secure European football” he said.
“I’ve been there when I played with Derry and I know what it’s like. You just want to win every game you can because European football is so important.
“They [Pat’s] will be giving it 100 percent. That’s not to say that we won’t either.
“It’s another derby game. You don’t usually get big heavy wins in these type of games because you have two sets of players really up for it.
“Pat’s have some good ball players and we’ve just got to nullify that. We’ve got to win our battles all around the pitch and we have the quality there to do that” he insisted.
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