Shamrock Rovers v Sporting Fingal
Football: League Of Ireland Premier Division
Friday 21st May Kick Off 8pm

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Shamrock Rovers ( Home Record W3 D2 L2 )
Sporting Fingal ( Away Record W2 D4 L1 )

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Shamrock Rovers left it till late last week but it was an excellent win in a very tough game at UCD. That 2-1 victory leaves them second in the league only on goal difference behind Dundalk. Rovers have now only lost once in eleven games which was at Dundalk and are now well and truly over their early season stutter.

Michael O Neill has assembled an excellent squad with plenty of quality cover if any of their first eleven miss out, probably only Bohemians can boast to also have that luxury in the league at the moment. The league is very tight with only 9 points seperating 8 sides with most teams having played 14 games.

Rovers have started to get into their stride and remain favourites along with holders Bohemians to win the league. Last seasons league's player of the year and top goal scorer Gary Twigg has scored 5 goals in 7 since returning from injury and this is undoubtedly a big factor in Rovers form but also his link up play with those around him.

Twigg also netted the late winner last week. Rovers perhaps have been better away from home but they have won their last 3 out of 4 home games with the other a draw and will be tested by Fingal in this encounter.

Sporting Fingal can be pleased with their early season form as they sit fourth in the table only 4 points behind leaders Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers but with a game in hand.

It's their first year in the Premier Division for the club only founded a few seasons back and are well bankrolled. The club won promotion last season finishing runners up and winning the play off to get promoted. They also won the FAI Cup beating Sligo in the Final.

Fingal made some good signings pre season including Ronan Finn who was the star of the UCD side who won the First Division last season and veteran Striker Glenn Crowe from Bohemians. However they will be missing a few key players for this game and it may prove crucial.

They have also been beaten twice by Bohemians showing perhaps that the top sides in the league may still be a level above them. They did manage a 1-1 draw with Rovers at home early in the season but it was at a time that Rovers were playing poorly. Their last outing was a disappointing 1-1 draw with strugglers Drogheda.


SHAMROCK ROVERS LAST 5 MATCHES 4-0-1
UCD 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
UCD 0-1 Shamrock Rovers ( League Cup )
Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Galway United
Dundalk 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
St Patricks Athletic 1-2 Shamrock Rovers

SPORTING FINGAL LAST 5 MATCHES 2-2-1
Drogheda 1-1 Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal 1-0 Bray
Sligo Rovers 0-1 Sporting Fingal
Sporting Fingal 0-2 Bohemians
UCD 0-0 Sporting Fingal

THE BETTING VERDICT

I picked Rovers the last two weeks and they won on both occasions and I am going to do them again as they are hitting form and most of the injured and suspended players that were missing are now back to full fitness and its showing in their results.

The Pick :

Shamrock Rovers 1-0 Sporting Fingal

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take SHAMROCK ROVERS TO WIN at the generous price of EVENS.