As we head into the final round of matches before the summer break, up to four sides can confidently state that they are still involved in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division title race.
Who's going to challenge Shamrock Rovers?
As we head into the final round of matches before the summer break, up to four sides can confidently state that they are still involved in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division title race.
Two of those clubs are Derry City and Bohemians, who face each other in the live TV broadcast on RTE 2 on Friday night.
After a run of four straight wins in May, the Candystripes are now without a victory in three games, and suffered a humbling 4-1 defeat to St. Patrick’s Athletic on Bank Holiday Monday.
That match was also played out in front of the live TV cameras, with Virgin Media broadcasting a game that Derry Head Coach Ruaidhrí Higgins described as his “most gut-wrenching night” since he took the reins at the Brandywell in 2021.
Derry’s performance will need to improve drastically to avoid a similar humiliation on Friday, as Bohemians come to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on the back of a poor result of their own.
Declan Devine’s men thought that Adam McDonnell’s late goal had earned a 1-1 draw away to Cork City, only for the Rebels to go up the other end and seal the win through a Daniel Krezic finish.
Shamrock Rovers took advantage of the slips by stringing together two wins over the Bank Holiday weekend, and both Derry and Bohs know that three points on Friday will be pivotal if they are to avoid falling further back in the race for the title.
It all makes for a perfect Friday night of TV! Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Will the new manager bounces continue?
That win for St. Pat’s over Derry made it six victories out of seven outings for the Inchicore side, since Jon Daly took on the management responsibility at Richmond Park.
During this time, the former Ireland underage international has seen his interim role made permanent, and judging by his side’s form so far, the right decision was made.
On Friday, Daly will take his side to Drogheda United hoping to extend a run that has lifted them to third in the table, just four points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers.
Cork City are another side who have enjoyed an upturn in fortunes since making a change in the dugout.
While the departure of Colin Healy last month was immediately followed by two defeats, a caretaker management team of Richie Holland and Liam Kearney has led the Rebels to four wins on the bounce.
Their dramatic win over Bohs on Monday lifted the newly-promoted club above Drogheda and into eighth place in the table, ahead of Friday’s clash at home to Dundalk.
It is expected that Holland and Kearney will now remain part of the management team for the remainder of the season, under the leadership of Sporting Director Liam Buckley.
See if the Saints and Cork can continue their impressive winning streaks on Friday, when both of their games will be live on LOITV!
Who can edge closer to the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division title?
Tallaght Stadium will host what is arguably an even bigger game on Saturday, when the top two go head-to-head in the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
TG4 will broadcast live coverage of Shamrock Rovers against Peamount United, with just three points separating the sides at the summit.
Peamount currently have the upper hand, as they sit on 31 points from 12 games played, compared to Rovers, who have picked up 28 points from the same number of fixtures.
It’s the Peas who are top of the form guide as well, having won their last four matches since the two sides played out a scoreless draw at the end of April.
The newly-formed Rovers women’s side remain undefeated, although they will be frustrated that four draws have allowed Peamount to gain an edge in the title race.
The most recent of these came away to Bohemians, when the Dublin rivals played out a scoreless draw at Dalymount Park last Saturday.
A genuine six-pointer lies in store! Kick-off at Tallaght Stadium on Saturday is at 4.45pm.
Who can score more in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division top two?
While there remains a 10-point gap between Galway United and Waterford at the top of the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division table, nothing can separate them in terms of goalscoring.
Both sides have found the net on 51 occasions from their first 18 games, which equates to an average of almost three goals per match.
Waterford’s tally has been boosted by their two Bank Holiday performances, which saw them defeat Treaty United 7-0 at home, before they racked up a 6-0 scoreline away to Kerry FC.
Galway also won 6-0 on Bank Holiday Monday, with Finn Harps being on the receiving end at Eamonn Deacy Park.
This was the perfect way to bounce back after the Tribesmen dropped points for just the second time this season, when they drew 1-1 away to Bray Wanderers on Friday night.
Bray will now have their work cut out to keep Waterford’s prolific forward line at bay on Friday, while it’s Wexford who will be sweating over a home fixture against league leaders Galway.
All five matches in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Divsion this Friday will be broadcast live on LOITV!
Could there be a rout in Tallaght?
It’s top versus bottom at Tallaght Stadium as champions Shamrock Rovers play host to neighbours UCD.
Given the form of the Students, it’s easy to fear for them as they come up against a Hoops side that is purring after their successful Bank Holiday weekend.
The two wins for Stephen Bradley’s side saw them bounce back after successive defeats to Drogheda and Cork in recent weeks.
On the other hand, UCD are on a run of seven consecutive defeats, and have conceded at least three goals in each of their last five games.
With Rory Gaffney and Aaron Greene in fine goalscoring form of late, it could be a long night for the visitors on Friday.
This game will also be broadcast live on LOITV!
Fixtures
Friday, 9 June, 2023 - 19:45
SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division
Cork City v Dundalk
Derry City v Bohemians
Drogheda United v St Patrick’s Athletic
Shamrock Rovers v UCD, 20:00
Shelbourne v Sligo Rovers
SSE Airtricity Men's First Division
Waterford v Bray Wanderers
Kerry v Athlone Town
Wexford v Galway United
Treaty United v Cobh Ramblers
Longford Town v Finn Harps
Saturday, 10 June, 2023
SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division
Shelbourne v Wexford Youths, 14:00
Bohemians v Cork City, 15:00
DLR Waves v Treaty United, 16:00
Shamrock Rovers v Peamount United, 16:45
Sligo Rovers v Galway United, 17:00
