![\"Colm](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/0023e532-614.jpg\"\/)
\nColm Whelan scored a hat-trick at the RSC last season<\/p>\n
Derry City play their first league match away from home this season against champions Shamrock Rovers as two of the big SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division title contenders clash at Tallaght Stadium.<\/p>\n
Derry were tipped to offer the biggest challenge to the dominant Hoops before the start of the season.<\/p>\n
Whether that materialises remains to be seen as both sides have struggled for consistency in the very early days.<\/p>\n
The Candystripes played four home games to start the year and conceded first in every one.<\/p>\n
Late goals ended up yielding two wins and a draw, a return Tiernan Lynch can be pleased with given good performances were hard to find.<\/p>\n
Shamrock Rovers have a weather-disrupted opening to the year. A late concession to Dundalk and last week’s derby defeat to Bohemians will certainly have irked Stephen Bradley.<\/p>\n
But they have proven time and again their peak arrives later in the year, with the knowledge they could once again be playing into December with European football in mind.<\/p>\n
It sets up a fascinating encounter tonight with a reaction the home side likely and the possibility Derry may improve for being away from their poor surface in the Ryan McBride Brandywell.<\/p>\n
Bradley is eager to use last week\u2019s defeat to get more from his squad: “It\u2019s up to us as a staff to understand it and not just pretend we don\u2019t like losing games. When you lose, you really have to understand what happened, try and make it right and learn from it and be better for it.<\/p>\n
“It’s really important as a group and this group is brilliant at it, understanding it and moving on, whether we win, lose or draw. Football and life waits for nobody so you have to be ready to go.”<\/p>\n
The Hoops supremo is expecting a high-quality affair: “They\u2019ve done well, I know they\u2019ve all been at home, but they\u2019ve won games which would be their aim. When you have players of Michael Duffy\u2019s quality, you always have a chance of winning games. It will be a good game tonight, two good teams with a lot of good players on the pitch.”<\/p>\n
Rory Gaffney is set for a “few” more weeks on the sideline according to Bradley, as is Max Kovalevskis.<\/p>\n
Bohemians are leading the way in the division having now beaten both City and Shamrock Rovers.<\/p>\n
They travel to Waterford with the chance to move further clear of those sides early on.<\/p>\n
\nColm Whelan scored a hat-trick at the RSC last season<\/p>\n
The Blues have yet to pick up a victory under new boss Jon Daly despite some encouraging signs. They twice took the lead in Derry last week and will be happy to be back on home soil this evening.<\/p>\n
Daly said: “There was a lot to take from last Friday night [in Derry]. We have to look at the negatives also too \u2013 when you go 2-0 up you have to manage the game better and we have to come away from the game with something regardless of the team or venue.<\/p>\n
“Bohemians have started the season really well, but we\u2019ve analysed them and looked at ways where we can hurt them. We\u2019re aware of where they can open us up, and we know it will be a tough game, but it\u2019s one where we\u2019re excited to get back to the RSC and get that first win.”<\/p>\n
Finlay Armstrong remains absent through injury, whilst Arlo Doherty continues his recovery from his hamstring injury picked up prior to the start of the season.<\/p>\n
Will Johnson and Jordan Houston are continuing to build up their fitness, having signed for the Blues before the end of the Winter transfer window.<\/p>\n
Shelbourne and St Patrick\u2019s Athletic go into their meeting in Tolka Park in much better fettle after victories last week.<\/p>\n
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\nJoey O’Brien’s Shelbourne are looking for a first home victory<\/p>\n
The Saints made it two from two thanks a late Kian Leavy strike on Monday against Galway United while Shels came from behind to beat Drogheda.<\/p>\n
Reds boss Joey O\u2019Brien is expecting the match to show just how much talent is within their respective squads: “St Pats are a really good side. They\u2019re dangerous on the attack and have real quality across the pitch. It\u2019ll be a great game, this is what the league is all about.<\/p>\n
“A Dublin derby under the lights at Tolka is always exciting. I expect both sets of fans to be right up for it.”<\/p>\n
O\u2019Brien confirmed he has a number of injury concerns without going into detail.<\/p>\n
Away from the teams expected to content the top honours, the meeting of Galway United and Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park will also tell us plenty.<\/p>\n
Frantz is Here. #ItsATribalThing<\/a> | #GUFC2026<\/a> | #UnitedAsOne<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/cYbva3hGDv<\/a><\/p>\n