Shelbourne will hope to draw level on points with Drogheda United on Monday when they welcome them to Tolka Park in their 17th League of Ireland game of 2025.
The hosts are sixth in the 10-team league with 22 points following their 1-0 loss against Bohemians on Friday, while the visitors were held to a 1-1 stalemate by Derry City on the same day and are fifth with 25 points.
Match preview
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Shelbourne were reduced to 10 men with the scores level against Bohemians when captain Mark Coyle was sent off in the 35th minute after miscontrolling a pass and fouling Dayle Rooney in the penalty area, and they were reduced to nine men when Alistair Coote was dismissed six minutes from time.
The champions’ title defence has hit a stumbling block, with the club drawing three, losing three and winning just one of their last seven, though they are only seven points from first-placed Shamrock Rovers.
Head coach Damien Duff will be concerned that his players have failed to score in three of their past four games, and their record of 18 goals in the top flight makes them the division’s second worst offensive side.
The Reds have also not kept a clean sheet in seven matches, conceding 11 goals in that time, though they have only conceded once in each of their last three.
Shelbourne’s form at home has been mixed, as while they have triumphed in two of their four most recent outings at Tolka Park, they drew one and lost one in that time and failed to win their prior three at the stadium.
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As for Drogheda, they were denied all three points against Derry City due to a 90th-minute equaliser, though they can have few complaints given they created no big chances in the final third.
The Drogs have been defensively porous of late, picking the ball out from the back of their net 10 times in their past five games.
Boss Kevin Doherty has faced Shelbourne three times this season, losing 2-0 in the President of Ireland’s Cup final on February 7, but beating them 1-0 in the league on March 7 before settling for a 2-2 draw in their second top-flight clash on April 18.
Doherty’s side head to Tolka Park having achieved just one victory in their seven most recent matches, being held to stalemates on four occasions.
The visitors are also winless in three away games – succumbing to defeat twice – but they did win three of their previous four on the road.
Team News
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With Coyle unavailable due to his red card, Sam Bone could come into Shelbourne’s back three next to Sean Gannon and Kameron Ledwidge.
John O’Sullivan, Jonathan Lunney and Kerr Mcinroy defended excellently from midfield last time out, and they will likely be selected once again.
Ademipo Odubeko and Harry Wood have scored six of the team’s 18 goals this season in the league, and they may partner each other up front.
Opponents Drogheda are set to be without attacker Darragh Markey and striker Joshua Thomas, so perhaps centre-forward Warren Davis will be supported by Thomas Oluwa and Douglas James-Taylor.
Midfielder Paul Doyle‘s absence could see Doherty start a double pivot consisting of Luke Heeney and Ryan Brennan ahead of centre-backs Elicha Ahui, Conor Keeley and James Bolger.
Shelbourne possible starting lineup:
Kearns; Gannon, Bone, Ledwidge; Caffrey, O’Sullivan, Lunney, Mcinroy, Norris; Odubeko, Wood
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
Dennison; Ahui, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Heeney, Brennan, Kane; Oluwa, James-Taylor; Davis
We say: Shelbourne 1-1 Drogheda United
Though Drogheda have been vulnerable at the back, their hosts have struggled to create chances in attack.
With both sides heading into Monday’s clash in subpar form, a low-scoring stalemate seems to be the most likely outcome.
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