Depleted Derry face tough trip to Tolka Park

Derry City will bring an end to a run of four consecutive away fixtures when they travel to face 2024 champions Shelbourne at Tolka Park on Friday evening.

Joey O'Brien’s Drumcondra men have already defeated the Candystripes this season, securing a 2–1 victory in the reverse fixture at Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium back in Round 6 in mid-March.

Shelbourne themselves have endured a stop-start opening to the campaign and currently sit sixth in the table, one place and two points ahead of Tiernan Lynch’s side, although they hold a game in hand after their scheduled fixture against Galway United was postponed due to heavy rain and a waterlogged pitch at Eamonn Deacy Park.

O’Brien’s charges come into the contest on the back of two consecutive defeats, losing 3–2 to both Dundalk and reigning double champions Shamrock Rovers, having otherwise recorded four draws and three wins so far this season.

Derry, meanwhile, remain without a victory since February, with their only two wins of the campaign coming against Waterford and Sligo Rovers, the two sides currently occupying the relegation zone.

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City supporters will be hoping that the Candystripes can build on their consecutive draws following a disappointing start to the campaign.

A drab scoreless stalemate away to Sligo last Monday was followed by a far more encouraging 2–2 draw at Oriel Park against Dundalk, where goals from James Clarke and Dipo Akinyemi twice gave the visitors the lead before strikes from Tyreke Wilson and Ronan Teahan ensured the spoils were shared.

Friday’s clash will be the second meeting between the sides this season. Shelbourne secured a hard-earned 2–1 victory in Foyleside earlier in the campaign, with former Arsenal academy prospect Jack Henry-Francis opening the scoring with a superb strike after just eight minutes before Henry Rylah responded almost immediately with an impressive solo effort two minutes later.

Daniel Kelly restored the visitors’ advantage after capitalising on a defensive lapse shortly before half-time to secure all three points.

It has been a disappointing opening round of fixtures for Derry, who have collected just eleven points from their first eleven matches. The early schedule appeared to offer Lynch’s side a strong platform to build momentum, with six home fixtures at the Brandywell during that period.

However, a return of just ten points from a possible thirty available at home has led to increasing frustration among supporters.

Expectations on Foyleside were high heading into the campaign following a busy winter recruitment drive that saw thirteen new players arrive at the Brandywell, none more notable than former Republic of Ireland captain James McClean. So far, however, performances have yet to reflect that pre-season optimism.

Lynch will be without both McClean brothers for the trip to Dublin 9. James is suspended after receiving a second yellow card at Oriel Park last Friday, while Patrick McClean remains sidelined through injury.

Captain Michael Duffy also continues to miss out with a calf strain, while goalkeeper Brian Maher remains unavailable after suffering a broken wrist in pre-season.

The Dubliner started the opening two fixtures of the campaign before undergoing surgery on the injury, ending his run of 134 consecutive appearances between the posts, with Edward Beach providing strong cover in his absence.

Shelbourne, meanwhile, remain without pacey frontman Mipo Odubeko, who has yet to feature this season, while Milan Mbeng, Sean Moore and Odhran Casey also remain sidelined.

Two consecutive draws have helped steady the ship somewhat for a Derry side short on confidence, and their performance at Oriel Park last Friday will provide encouragement after pushing Dundalk all the way on home turf.

However, the 2024 champions possess significant quality throughout their squad and will present another major test as the Candystripes look to finally bring their winless run to an end.