Derry City and Shamrock Rovers face a potentially critical game in their bid to win the league title tonight in front of the RTÉ cameras, with leaders Shelbourne hoping to move clear.
The 2024 league season will so far be remembered for inconsistency, unpredictability and openness within the Premier Division.
Tonight’s fixtures could leave much of that behind and see Shels open up a six-point gap or even see the Hoops become their main rival.
Derry have been the nearly men when it comes to the league crown.
With one FAI Cup during the Ruaidhrí Higgins tenure, and a chance of another to come having reached the semi-finals, the question is whether they can take the step forward required to win a title.
Derry City may have taken this position at the start of the season.
Shelbourne will visit the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on the final night of the season.
Four points off top and with Shamrock Rovers trailing behind them, there are no excuses from here on in.
An FAI Cup semi-final is secured and now all focus returns to the league.
This is a pressure situation and perhaps they have not performed to their best at those time.
That would not sum up their display against Shels last week in the Cup, only leaving wonderment as to why it can’t be like this ever week.
Nevertheless, all that counts now is how they finish they year.
Winger Michael Duffy was back on song last week and spoke to the Irish News ahead of this game.
He said: “It’s another big one for us and we’re at that stage of the season where every game is big.
“There aren’t many matches to go and after a big win last Saturday, we’ve another massive game with Rovers at home and it could really push us on going into the last seven league games.
“To be fair I didn’t write them out at any stage, because I knew they would hit far and they would come with a run of victories.
“Look, they’ve won the league four years in a row, so I knew with the squad they have that they could never be written off, but look I just focus on us and I’m not thinking about anyone else.”
The Hoops’ big target for the year was to qualify for the league phases of a European competition.
They may not have predicted how poor their league form has been.
But with many players recovered from injuries and with time to rest, suddenly they look the force of old.
A remarkable comeback would be on the card if they leave Derry with three points.
Stephen Bradley knows the onus is on Derry to close down Shels.
“We know what it takes as a team. We have been here before. It is about staying focused and about continuing this good run on Friday night up in Derry. We know it will be a difficult game, but the aim is to continue this run, go there and get all three points.
“It should be a good game as it is two good sides. We know they are a team full of good players and we are a top team.
“It has the makings to be a really good match and hopefully both teams will go to try and win, and we will see a good game of football.”
Graham Burke returns for the Hoops while Sean Hoare is doubtful.
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