Derry City take on the visitors Shamrock Rovers in the round 17 match of Irish Premier Division. The match will be played on Friday, May 23rd at The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium (Derry).
Derry City are something of a local Monaco, given their unique status in Irish football and the complex history of their region. Though based in Derry — a city located in Northern Ireland — they have long competed in the Republic of Ireland’s football system, where they’ve won numerous trophies, including league titles and domestic cups. Last season, however, they finished only fourth, missing out on European qualification. That prompted a managerial change in late autumn, with Ruaidhrí Lynch taking charge. Under his leadership, Derry City have become one of the league’s top sides, winning the majority of their matches, especially in recent weeks. Still, their momentum was checked slightly in the previous round with a 1-1 draw against Drogheda United.
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Shamrock Rovers aim to reclaim the top spot. The "Hoops" dominated Irish football from 2020 to 2023, winning four consecutive league titles. Last season was exceptional in another way: the Dublin side advanced through European qualifying rounds and performed admirably in the Conference League group stage, taking three wins and 11 points — only losing to Chelsea, albeit heavily. However, that deep continental run came at a cost domestically, as they narrowly lost the league title to Shelbourne, finishing on 61 points versus 63. In the new season, they fell short against Molde in European playoffs, losing on penalties after trading 1-0 wins. Domestically, their campaign began shakily, with two defeats in the first three matches, but they quickly turned things around — only Derry City prevented them from winning during their next six outings. A new slump followed in April and early May, with three draws and a loss, but they appear back in form now, with recent wins over Waterford United and St. Patrick’s Athletic.
Shamrock Rovers are unbeaten in their last eight meetings with Derry City, although both of the most recent encounters ended in draws. These sides look evenly matched at the moment. Given the visitors' return to form, backing Shamrock Rovers with a "draw no bet" (0 handicap) seems like a sensible choice.
Prediction for the match: Shamrock Rovers to win with 0.0 handicap.
