- Shamrock Rovers FC have won two and lost three of their last five matches.
- Derry City have won one, drawn three and lost one of their last five.
- Shamrock Rovers have won eight, drawn one and lost just one at home in the Premier Division 2026.
Rovers’ pattern of play
Shamrock Rovers FC are on course for another Premier Division title after taking 40 points from 21 games, but they have not been at their best recently, winning two and losing three of their last five.
Rovers have split their last two at home, with one win and one loss.
Stephen Bradley has installed a clear identity on this team since taking over as manager in 2016 and his side are a possession-based team with a clear pattern of playing that controls the tempo and forces opponents to press.
Rory Gaffney is the main playmaker but the likes of Sean Kavanagh provide the energy and versatility to adapt between the 3-4-2-1 and 4-3-3 systems that are their staples.
They score an average of 1.80 goals per home game in the Premier Division 2026 while conceding just 0.70, giving them the attacking edge while remaining very solid at the back.
Graham Burke leads the scoring for Rovers with seven in 19 games and provides a reliable focal point for their play.
Derry City’s style
Derry City have won just one, drawn five and lost four away from home this season and they are sixth in the Premier Division 2026 on 25 points after 21 games, 15 behind the leaders Rovers.
They have won just once in their last five, drawing three and losing one, with their three most recent games seeing them draw 0-0 at home to Shelbourne, lose 2-1 away to Dundalk and then smash Bohemian FC 4-1 at the Brandywell.
Tiernan Lynch has had little time to install a playing style after taking over in late 2024 but his Derry City side are a high-tempo, pressing team, with plenty of athleticism and movement from their wing-backs.
Lynch will press high up the pitch to force turnovers and get at Rovers with their pace and sharp transitions, which could disrupt Rovers' rhythm and take advantage of the wide areas.
James Clarke is their top scorer with five in 20 Premier Division 2026 games, but Derry City have a real goal threat from all over the pitch, with Will Patching's driving runs from midfield and dead-ball prowess always a threat.
They score an average of 0.90 per away game in the Premier Division 2026, conceding 1.20 on average and it is clear their troubles have been at both ends of the field.
A big game for both sides
The last three meetings between these sides have seen Derry City win twice and Rovers once, with no draws in that time, so there is a rivalry developing between these two clubs.
Shamrock Rovers' odds of 93/100 look favourable, given the hosts are top of the league, while Derry have won just once in 10 on the road.
Both teams will view it as crucial to their ambitions, but we're expecting Rovers to edge out Derry in a cagey affair at Tallaght Stadium.
Their past meetings have been low-scoring with the last five at Shamrock Rovers seeing an average of 0.5 a goal per game, so we're going for a 2-0 Rovers win in what will be a tense affair with plenty of significance in the league table.
