Kenny v Duff tops the bill in double-header
When the 2024 League of Ireland fixtures were released last December, this May 20 double-header was always going to stand out.
Tonight, the league’s four sides involved in Europe later this summer are all in action. St Patrick’s Athletic host leaders Shelbourne in a big Dublin derby, while up the road in Tallaght, champions Shamrock Rovers take on Derry City – a side who, having finished runners-up for two years running, will be fully expected to be challenging the Hoops for their crown come the business end of the campaign.
Who would have thought it would be events in Inchicore taking precedence tonight, not the clash of the two likely title challengers. It’s been that kind of season.
Stephen Kenny’s stunning return to the league last week, on a whopping five-and-a-half-year-deal with the Saints, was a remarkable turn of events. This Wednesday will mark six months since he departed the Ireland hot seat.
But what was even more remarkable was the timing of that announcement last Thursday. Kenny’s reign at the club began against a figure he knows well in Derry boss Ruaidhrí Higgins, who he signed twice as a player before adding him to his Ireland backroom team as a scout and analyst.
Amazing
Tonight, Kenny will again share the touchline with a familiar face in Shelbourne boss Damien Duff, who was once his assistant with the Irish senior team.
“I know, it’s amazing really, the week that’ s in it ,” said Kenny when asked about coming up against his former colleagues so soon into his tenure in Inchicore.
In that context, it’s no surprise that more eyes will be following proceedings at Richmond Park this evening.
In the aftermath of Friday’s 1-0 win over Waterford, Duff said that while he was pleased to see the ex-Ireland boss return to the domestic league, his full focus remains on the three points on offer to his Reds side this evening.
The Tolka Park outfit flew out of the traps at the beginning of 2024, winning six games in a row to race to the Premier Division summit. But since April, victories have been harder to come by, with Friday’s win over the Blues their second in 10 games, although they did extend their unbeaten run to six as Seán Boyd netted for his third successive game.
As they target a fourth consecutive win over the Saints, tonight’s clash marks the halfway point in the season. Shels remain top by one point ahead of the derby and Duff feels his side have left some points behind them so far this term.
“What’s my assessment? To be brutally honest, points left behind.
A lot of teams could probably say that. I get that a lot of games are won and lost on fine margins and that’s the league this year, but that would be my brutally honest assessment. I’m very proud, happy as ever here, love the guys, some amazing performances, but have left points behind.”
The Kenny era at St Pat’s began in defeat on Friday as Derry ran out 1-0 winners. The Saints sit in seventh, 12 points behind Shels coming into tonight’s clash, with just one win in their last eight.
Despite the attention surrounding Kenny’s appointment, Reds midfielder Evan Caffrey insists his side will be focusing on themselves, although the 21-year-old did reveal one connection to the Saints boss.
“We’re playing the same St Pat’s team we played two games [against] this season. That [Kenny’s appointment] doesn’t really matter,” said Caffrey, grandson of club legend Theo Dunne, who famously captained Shels against Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the 1963 European Cup.
“He’s the manager. At the end of the day, he’s not out there playing games on the pitch. It doesn’t really bother us, no. There is always going to be that [attention] in a Dublin derby. We’re going to go out and give our all as we always do. He went to the same school as me [Old Bawn, Tallaght], I remember seeing his picture in the school as a kid.”
Although the attention will be on the meeting of Kenny and Duff, which is live on TV, at Tallaght Stadium, it’s third against second. Higgins will be hoping to complete a perfect four days in the capital and secure-along-a-waited-winover Stephen Bradley’s champions, who they sit five points ahead of.
Revenge for last month’s 3-1 defeat to Rovers at the Brandywell will no doubt be on their minds, too.
Tonight’s fixtures
ST PAT’S v SHELBOURNE (Richmond Park, 7.45)
Team news: St Pat’s are without Tom Grivosti and Axel Sjoberg while Shels’ Shane Griffin is nearing a return to action.
Talking point: The Reds are unbeaten in six and targeting a fourth straight win over St Pat’s.
Ref: R Hennessy. Odds: St Pat’s 6/4, Shels 19/10, draw 15/8.
Verdict: Away win.
SHAMROCK RVS v DERRY C (Tallaght Stadium, 8.0)
Team news: Lee Grace, Dylan Watts and Richie Towell face fitness tests for the hosts. Derry reported no injury concerns.
Talking point: The champions are third and could cut the gap on Derry to two points with a home victory, but they are winless in four after Friday’s defeat at bottom-placed Dundalk.
Ref: D MacGraith. Odds: Rovers 11/10, Derry 23/10, draw 21/10.
Verdict: Draw.