Good evening. It may be a Friday night in which the Six Nations clash between Ireland and Wales hogs much of the national spotlight but for League of Ireland fans the only show in town is the one involving their club.
There are four Premier Division matches up for consideration with reigning champions Shamrock Rovers hosting last season’s runners-up Derry City at Tallaght Stadium.
The sides have already met at the Hoops’ home ground this season, with the Candystripes winning 1-0 in the President’s Cup – thanks to Daragh Markey’s first-half goal – at the end of January.
Following the derby triumph over their major rivals seven days ago, Bohemians are sitting pretty on top of the league with 10 points from four outings. Alan Reynolds’ men are away to his former club Waterford, who have yet to register a league win under John Daly.
The televised game (Virgin Media Two, 8.0) is the all-Dublin affair between Shelbourne and St Patrick’s Athletic, with Saints fans feeling considerably more positive thanks to back-to-back wins over Dundalk and Galway United.
And those two clubs make up the final fixture, which takes place at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Cork City are already looking like the team to beat in the First Division, and – in one of four second-tier games – the Leesiders are getting ready for a derby with Cobh Ramblers at St Colman’s Park.