Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Irish Premier Division match.
On Friday, the top two sides in the Irish Premier Division go head-to-head. Current league leaders Shamrock Rovers, with a five-point cushion, travel to face Derry City.
Derry City
Derry City are showing improvement on last season’s fourth-place finish. The title race remains tight, but the squad currently stands as the main challenger to Shamrock Rovers. A direct meeting offers a golden chance to reduce the gap. After three consecutive victories, the team played out a 1:1 draw — a tactically solid result, considering Drogheda United are part of the chasing group and were held off. Playing away, Derry City managed to equalise in the 90th minute.
Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers lead the standings by five points, although they have played one more game. That fixture was rescheduled from Matchday 24, originally set for mid-July due to upcoming European commitments. Shamrock Rovers will represent Ireland in the UEFA Europa Conference League. Their current goal difference (+16) is impressive, with many goals scored in recent games. On Monday, the squad swept aside St. Patrick's Athletic (4:0), having beaten Waterford United (3:1) just three days earlier. Against Drogheda United, the same team that drew with Derry City, Shamrock Rovers eased to a 3:0 win, scoring all three goals in the second half.
Derry City vs Shamrock Rovers Prediction
Despite enjoying more rest, Derry City must remain cautious when facing such a prolific side. In the last two meetings between the teams, Derry City managed to avoid defeat (1:1, 0:0). However, the heavy schedule could start to catch up with Shamrock Rovers. They are expected to get on the scoresheet again, but may fall short of securing all three points.
