Dundalk, seeking to pick up a seventh consecutive victory across all competitions, square off with Shelbourne at the Shelbourne Football Club Stadium on Friday with kickoff at 9:45 pm.
Shelbourne suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of 10-man Bohemian on Friday evening. In a game where Ciaran Kelly received his marching orders, Dawson Devoy struck in the 13th minute to hand the hosts all three points at Dalymount Park.
Prior to that, Damien Duff’s men saw their four-game winning streak come to an end on May 27, when they suffered a 2-0 loss against Shamrock Rovers courtesy of first-half goals from Richie Towell and Rory Gaffney.
However, Shelbourne will fancy their chances of arresting their slump in form this weekend as they return home, where they have won each of their last three games since April’s 4-1 loss to Bohemian, scoring five goals and conceding one in the process.
In the Premier Division, Dundalk have won five straight games and are unbeaten in each of their last eight. The team’s most recent match was a 2-1 win over Larne FC. At halftime, Lee Bonis scored for Larne, but John Martin tied the score before David McMillan scored the winning goal in the 72nd minute. The team now returns to the Premier Division, where it has won five straight games.
Shelbourne vs Dundalk Head to Head
Both sides have 21 games against each other with hosts taking 4 wins while visitors with 13 wins. Here is a look at their previous encounters:
Home
- Bohemian 1-0 Shelbourne
- Shamrock 2-0 Shelbourne
- Shelbourne 2-0 UCD
- Patrick’s 1-2 Shelbourne
Away
- Dundalk 2-1 Larne
- Dundalk 1-0 Shamrock
- Finn Harps 0-1 Dundalk
- Derry City 1-2 Dundalk
Shelbourne Team News
Shelbourne will play against Dundalk without their star forward Sean McSweeney, who has been out of action since last November through an ankle injury. Following their lethargic attacking display against Bohemian, Sean Boyd could push for a return to the starting lineup, teaming up with teenager Jad Hakiki.
Dundalk Team News
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny will be unable to call upon the services of Irish defender John Mountney, who has been sidelined with a long-term injury. He is joined on the squad’s injury table by veteran defender Brian Gartland, who recently came off with a foot injury in May’s game against University College Dublin.
Prediction and Odds
Dundalk, who have not lost in nine games, are heading into Shelbourne on the back of a superb run. We predict a one-sided affair with the visitors coming out victorious.
- Away Win
- Goals Under 2.5
- No Score: Home