- Shelbourne FC are unbeaten in 5 league games, with 3 wins and 2 draws, and are undefeated away from home in 2 games (W1, D1).
- Drogheda United are winless in their last 5 Premier Division 2026 matches, with 2 draws and 3 losses.
She’s back on song
There is a contrast of styles on display at Sullivan and Lambe Park on Friday when 8th-placed Drogheda United welcome 5th-placed Shelbourne FC to the Premier Division 2026.
Shelbourne are the better side, boasting a healthy 5 wins, 3 draws and only 1 loss from 9 away Premier Division 2026 games. With 13 goals scored in 9 away games, Shelbourne will be a big threat on the road this season in the top-flight.
Joey O'Brien's side are as good as any in the league when it comes to playing a possession-first, high-pressing style of football. The Red and White's ability to structure and build-up in narrow or wide shapes, depending on the game state and the opposition, can be a problem for teams who are less tactically flexible than themselves.
Drogheda to be direct
Kevin Doherty's pragmatic and disciplined setup is a different beast from O'Brien's Shelbourne, and the home side will look to play a compact shape and hit Shelbourne on the break.
Drogheda United are the definition of a direct team, with their wing-backs and mobile forwards looking to be a nuisance to Shelbourne in transition. Mark Doyle is Drogheda's talisman, with 8 goals in 19 Premier Division 2026 appearances, and he has scored 2 in their last 5.
He could be Drogheda's biggest threat in transition as injuries to Shelbourne's central defensive axis could open some gaps for the hosts to exploit. However, Shelbourne are the form team and should control the pace of the game, so the odds-on price of 9/10 for the away win looks fair.
History suggests a high-scoring game
The last 5 games between these sides at this venue has seen an average of 1.7 goals per side, and that's what we expect to see again on Friday. The home team have won 2, Shelbourne 1 and 2 draws, with the most recent game ending in a 4-3 win to Drogheda in a wild game away from home.
Shelbourne have Harry Wood to watch out for, as he's a dual threat in the final third. Wood has 8 goals in 20 Premier Division 2026 fixtures and has chipped in with 3 assists in Shelbourne's last 5 games.
We're going for Over 2.5 goals at 93/100 and Both Teams to Score - Yes at 77/100, as both teams have the firepower to get on the scoresheet and we see this being an end-to-end, open game.
