Lilies boss knows another derby slip can ruin title hopes
O’Donnell wary of the threat posed by rivals Drogheda
B“We won’t go sleepwalking into the game”
RAGGING rights always matter in the ancient kingdom of Oriel, even more so tonight as it’s the 99th meeting of Dundalk and Drogheda United in a near 60-year League of Ireland rivalry.
In November 1963, reigning champions Dundalk skittled the newbies from next door 6-0 at the old Lourdes Stadium, and the Lilies have pretty much held the upper hand since.
Of the 98 derby duels until now, Dundalk have won 53, compared to 20 for Drogheda, and it would be a shock if that trend was bucked at Oriel Park.
Dundalk boss Stephen O’Donnell figured in ten derbies between 2013 and 2018, which included thumping wins, 7-0 and 6-0, over the then not so noisy neighbours.
‘My biggest memory of the Louth derby games that I was involved in as a player at Oriel Park was scoring the late goal against Drogheda United with the last kick in 2013,’ recalled O’Donnell.
‘I didn’t score that many but that was a good one!’
Both sides are on a decent run of form. Dundalk have picked up 10 points from their last five games and are looking for a fourth consecutive home win.
Drogheda, who won the Jim Malone Cup in February, have lost just one of the six games that followed the 1-0 win over Dundalk in March.
‘We know it will be a tough game,’ said O’Donnell. ‘There’s always a competitive edge to it. For a lot of our lads, it’s their first taste of a proper derby at Oriel Park and we’re really looking forward to it.’
‘Drogheda United have been on a good run. They had a bad start against Sligo Rovers last week and were two down after just five minutes but they came back into the game and lost it at the death after having a man sent off. Between the Jim Malone Cup and the first league game, they’ve beaten us twice this season so it’s not a case that we’re sleepwalking into the game.’
Dundalk can’t afford to lose much more ground in the title race. A third of the way through the season, they trail champions Shamrock Rovers by nine points.
The Hoops are on a roll and chase a sixth straight win when they travel to Sligo Rovers tonight.
Stephen Bradley, who didn’t get worked up when some of the early season results were indifferent, isn’t banging his chest at the improved performances. ‘We’ll go to Sligo there with the same mindset, the same attitude and desire to get three points,’ he said. ‘We’re in a good spell at the moment but I feel we’ve been like that for quite some time. It’s just when you win games, your performances get highlighted even more. We’re doing OK but it would count for nothing if we don’t show up.’
Shelbourne boss Damien Duff is demanding a performance ‘full of energy’ for tonight’s long distance trip to Finn Harps.
Duff declared the Reds was ‘devoid of energy’ the last time the teams met at Tolka Park and reckons an improved performance will be required for ‘one of the toughest places to go in the league’.
‘The likes of Shamrock Rovers and Derry often struggle there so we know what we’re facing. It’s probably one of the better times of year to go there with the weather but it’s a game where the players are going to have to show their personality,’ he said.
‘For 89 minutes last week (against Dundalk) we showed great concentration and yes there were positives but we switched off for 60 seconds and you can see what happens,’ he added.
Duff knows Shels must maintain their concentration to embellish a decent away record this season.