Rovers welcome Pat’s to Tallaght for top-of-the-table encounter

IN WHAT will be a much anticipated top-of-the-table clash, Shamrock Rovers welcome Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic to Tallaght Stadium on Friday night, by Eoghan Gardiner.

Both teams remain tied at the summit of the Airtricity League Premier Division, with the Hoops holding top spot only by virtue of goal difference.

Certainly Rovers skipper Ronan Finn is expecting a tough match against an in-form opposition.

“It’s not going to be an easy game, but we’ll fully prepare as we always do” he told The Echo. “We’ll go in with a game plan, but we know it’ll be tough.

“We know that if we don’t respect the opposition, we’ll get turned over.

“Pats have got very good technical footballers like ourselves. We like to get the ball down, we like to play a particular brand of football. We’ve got goals all over the pitch, and I think we’ve got to utilise that” he stressed.

Finn believes that the depth in the Rovers squad could prove “a very powerful asset.”

“We’ve got lads coming back from injury, we’ve got a very, very strong squad.”

“I think regardless of what team the manager picks on Friday, it could be that your bench needs to come on and win you the game, as has been proven the case throughout the season so far.”

Saints head coach Stephen O’Donnell remains unfazed by the high-profile nature of the encounter, but admitted “we’re going to have to be on the top of our game to get anything from it.”

O’Donnell believes that both clubs had very different ambitions at the beginning of their league campaigns.

He credits his players for the impressive season Pats have had so far, one which defies what most would have expected for them.

“To a certain extent, it’s a free hit to us. The ambitions at the start of the season for the two clubs were probably different.”

“Anything bar winning the league, at the start of this season, would have been a failure for Shamrock Rovers.

“I don’t think you can say the same about us. Our ambitions were slightly lower, it’s just through the sheer good attitude and good form of the players that we find ourselves where we are.”

“We’re going to go there and enjoy it. We’ve a young, hungry group, we’ve a small group, so it’s just there to be enjoyed. We’ll enjoy the ride and see where it takes us.”

Saints defender Paddy Barrett says that his side are well aware of the challenge posed by the Rovers frontline, and that they are hoping for a clean-sheet against the league leaders.

“We know the attack force that Shamrock Rovers have. Every player that they have is top-quality. You’ve got the likes of Greene, Gaffney, Burke, Mandroiu, Towell.”

“Hopefully we can limit their chances, and hopefully keep a clean-sheet as well, but it’s obviously going to be a difficult task for us, but one that we’re looking forward to as a team.”

While both sides will be fully focused on Friday’s encounter, they will soon be gearing up for tough outings in the FAI Cup second round next month.

Indeed Tuesday’s draw has pitched Rovers against old rivals Bohemians in Dalymount Park while St Pat’s will travel to Turners Cross to take on Cork City.