Week three of the new League of Ireland season brings a blockbuster encounter from Tolka Park where the early hopes of Shelbourne retaining their crown will be tested by a Shamrock Rovers side seeking their first points of the season.
It has a been a unique starting point for the Hoops.
Amidst an unprecedented European knockout match in February, as well as a 30,000+ attended Dublin derby with Bohemians, comes the reality check that they must avoid a slow beginning to their 2025 campaign.
Stephen Bradley has been adamant his side can cope with the hectic opening to the year, given their history of balancing European commitments while landing the four in-a-row title feat that came so close to being five.
However, early season injuries and some setbacks in recruitment has left them with a weaker hand at the moment, at least on paper.
Rory Gaffney has penned a new deal and more new talent will be sought in attack despite the closure of the window. Free agents are still available to join club.
It's far from the perfect scenario as they look to regain their crown. Last week’s postponement against Cork City may well have privately been welcomed after the comedown to the loss to Molde and what would have been a poor surface for a third match in four days at the Tallaght venue.
It has given tonight’s visitors to Tolka Park time to rest bodies and firmly put their attentions on league matters
For Shels it has been close to smooth sailing for the beginning of the 2025 Premier Division.
Maximum points from games with Waterford and Derry City has put them where they spent most of last year – top of the table – and with better resources behind them this year.
While it is just a third match of the season, and second for the Hoops, this game will certainly impact both sides and may be key to momentum for the rest of the first round of games.
Gaining an early season lead was critical for Shels last year and repeating that would fill them with confidence.
Two teams eager to get their own momentum are St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers as they clash at Richmond Park.
Of the teams which have played twice, only Pat’s and Sligo are without a win so far.
It may not come as a major surprise for the Bit O’ Red, but many expected Stephen Kenny’s men to pick up where they left off with a dominating finish to 2024.
They will look at the challenge of Sligo as the opportunity to put their first victory on the board.
It has been a worrying opening to the year for John Russell with six goals conceded in just two matches.
With 10 new players on board after being raided by clubs around the league, including the Saints, it may take time for green shoots to emerge.
Drogheda United and Galway United will be much more pleased with their starts as they clash at Sullivan and Lambe Park. They sit on four points going into this clash.
Cork City welcome Bohemians to Turner's Cross. After last week's cancellation, it's another home fixture for City with the Gypsies on the road again.
The final game of the night sees Waterford FC make the long trip to north to face Derry City.
The Blues were beaten by a single goal last week, while Tiernan Lynch secured his first victory at Derry boss against Bohs.
It's a double-weekend of matches with five more games to come on Monday night as the new campaign quickly heats up.
Shelbourne v Shamrock Rovers, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Stephen Bradley has attempted to keep it simple on what Shamrock Rovers need do differently to get ahead of the rest as their first clash with Shelbourne is upon us in Tolka Park.
It took Damien Duff many attempts to notch a first win over the Hoops. Home games in Drumcondra proved crucial, even when Bradley's men came strong late on.
Looking at the title race to come, Bradley stressed: "We just need to be better than what we were last season. We don’t look at any individual team, we never have or never will. It’s more about that we know, if we do what we do to our best, we’ll give ourselves a better chance of being successful.
"Last season we didn’t do that domestically. The second half of the season was good, but that’s not enough at this club. It’s not enough to do it for four or five months and we know that and know it wasn’t acceptable.
"If we show up as we did against Bohs, as we did against Molde, for the majority of the season, we’ll be fine."
Mipo Odubeko, Ellis Chapman, Daniel Kelly and Ryan O’Kane are among the new faces with the Reds this year.
Despite the added quality, Bradley is not expecting a new philosophy from the home side tonight.
"Shels have added some good players to their group, but they pretty much do fairly similar things, Bradley explained.
"They’re good at what they do, but it’s similar to what they’ve done last season and the one before.
"So, we need to make sure we’re focused and ready. If you remember the game we lost to Shels in Tolka early last season, that was from us being really poor in terms of a goal kick and a shot from the edge of the box.
"That was silly stuff that we should’ve prevented. We need to make sure we focus on that sort of stuff, the small detail and then look after everything else."
Jack Byrne, Trevor Clarke and Adam Matthews all return. Danny Mandroiu is out until mid-March while Darragh Nugent is closing on a return.
Shels had the best record of all of the capital clubs in derbies last campaign.
Damien Duff feels it will be crucial once more.
"Derbies were a topic we referenced in a team meeting this morning, the Shels boss said.
"They're not about bragging rights, they’re about putting points on the board. If you want to win the league, you have to win Dublin derbies.
"You also need a strong points return from Friday-to-Monday games. More often than not, if you manage that, you’ll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. It’s about using our squad, not just the starting players, and figuring out the best way to win games.
"They’ll try to play their usual game, they like to dominate possession. For so long, they were the best team in the country. They’ve been brilliant and have represented the country so well in Europe. They set the standard. Tonight, though, our focus is on us."
St Patrick's Athletic v Sligo Rovers, Richmond Park, 7.45pm
Fast starts, slow, anywhere in between. It’s fair to say Stephen Kenny has dealt with it all in over two decades of management, most of which were spent on this island.
With three matches to come in a week, the former Republic of Ireland manager sees it as something to get excited about.
Kenny said: "We're looking forward to the games, it's a great week, Sligo Rovers, Derry City and then Shamrock Rovers over the next seven days, they are all really good games. I was down in Sligo for their game against Waterford last week, they were unlucky really in a tight game, a 3-2 defeat.
"Sligo have signed some players from the UK who have played at a good level and have a fair degree of experience and we'll get a tough game off them for sure."
Chris Forrester could make a 300th appearance for the Saints.
Injury has curtailed his involvement so far, with Romal Palmer amongst the midfield that found the battle hard in Galway.
Palmer said the squad are ready for action: "The first two games didn't go the way we'd hoped but it's early in the season. With this double weekend, we have an opportunity to kick on and get going, at home with the fans behind us, it's massive.
"We want to give that support back to them and put on two great performances. We've got so much quality in the squad and belief in each other and we'll be aiming to show that against Sligo Rovers and then Derry City this weekend."
Midfielder Kian Leavy (ankle) and defender Sean Hoare (knock) is out while the thigh injury Jamie Lennon picked up in the warm up last Friday will keep him out until after the international break at the end of next month.
Rovers will be without Wilson Waweru who continues his rehab on a long-term injury. While Stephen Mallon will be assessed in the lead up to Friday's game and is pushing to be involved following a knock picked up in a late pre-season fixture.
John Russell is asking for patience for his group, having leaked goals so far.
"It's been a tough start to the year but we're only two games in and I have a lot of belief in this group of players", Russell said.
"Everyone is working extremely hard each and every day and no less is allowed. We know there are areas we need to and must improve in, especially from the Drogheda game. We didn't deserve anything from that game but we learned from it and move on to the next one.
"We're still a new group and we're learning about each other more and more as the days go on.
"We've a big weekend coming now with Pat's and then Shams right after that. But we're really looking forward to the challenge."
Derry City v Waterford FC, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
These sides were something of an unknown given there was lots of squad turnover in the off-season and a new man at the helm in Tiernan Lynch at the Brandywell.
The Blues recorded an excellent win in Sligo, while Derry saw off Bohemians last week.
A loss to Shelbourne is in common as they go into tonight's class.
Ryan Burke is suspended for the game on Friday night, following his red-card against Shelbourne FC last week. Ben McCormack & Grant Horton remain doubts after picking up injuries in recent weeks. Trae Coyle & Matty Smith remain out, as they continue their recovery from injury.
James Olayinka makes the matchday squad having returned to training this week, after missing the first two-weeks of the season due to injury.
Waterford manager Keith Long said: "I think we can gain confidence based off our first two performances, and we’ve got to move on to what is a tough week with Derry away followed quickly by Cork and Bohemians at home.
"The games are coming thick and fast now, and we’ve got to be ready and ensure we recover well."
Lynch, meanwhile, will serve a one-match ban from his red card against Bohs last week.
He has warned his players the Blues will be no pushover, with Long’s experience behind them.
"We’ve been watching Waterford in their last two games," said the ex-Larne boss.
"They are a really, really well-organised team and a really structured team. Their concepts have probably been slightly different over the two games, at home to Shelbourne and away to Sligo.
"Regardless, it will be a hugely difficult task but as we keep talking about, it’s about what we do.
"We know where their strengths lie and we have to be very conscious of that and then we have to look at areas where we feel we can break them down and try and get some success and that’s what we’ve been working on."
New signing Kevin Holt is available after joining from Dundee United for an undisclosed fee last week.
Cork City v Bohemians, Turner's Cross, 7.45pm
Nights such as this have been missed on Turner’s Cross.
While there was a few big occasions on the way to the First Division title, and a four-goal thriller in the opener of this season, a clash against a Dublin powerhouse gets the blood flowing on Leeside.
Tim Clancy’s side show against Galway United that they will have plenty to offer going forward this year, while their options at the back may not be as impressive.
It was a great starting point for City. They were left disappointed by a postponement in Tallaght Stadium last week, yet they come into this game itching to build on the point secured already.
Alan Reynolds says his Bohemians side are relishing the challenge of another tough away game as they look to get back to winning ways against Cork City at Turner’s Cross.
Bohs’ 2025 campaign got off to the perfect start a fortnight ago on a memorable day in the Aviva Stadium.
It was déjà vu from 2024 when Michael Duffy was the matchwinner last week as the Gypsies were brought down to earth .
Manager Alan Reynolds will watch this week’s game in the stands after a red card last week.
Reflecting on events in Derry, he said: "We were disappointed with the result against Derry. Between the wind and the pitch, the game was obviously played in tough conditions but we know we didn’t create enough opportunities and we needed to be better in possession.
"It was a pretty even game. Derry started well but neither side really managed to get a hold of the game, and other than Michael Duffy’s moment of brilliance with the free-kick, there wasn’t a whole lot of chances for either team.
"It’s very early days, we are two games into a 36-game season. We were delighted with how we started two weeks ago, without getting carried away, and likewise we have to take last week’s result on the chin, learn from it, and respond.
"Cork City are riding high after promotion and we are in no doubt that it is going to be another tough game as Tim will be determined to make Turner’s Cross an intimidating place for teams to play as it always has been.
"A lot has been said about the renewed interest in the league, the buzz about the league getting bigger and bigger, and the crowds that are going to games now, so these are exactly the kind of venues and games that players should be relishing to play in.
Rhys Brennan (shoulder) and Alex Lacey (calf) are doubts but Jordan Flores (calf) comes back into contention.
Drogheda United v Galway United, Sullivan & Lambe Park, 7.45pm
Expected to finish in the bottom half of the table, Drogheda United and Galway United have already shown their worth in this year's league.
Drogheda have yet to concede a goal so far with a point in Inchicore and a comprehensive success over Sligo Rovers a sign they may be set to overachieve once more.
This game sold out five days ago, demonstrating the 2,200 capacity at the venue is so restrictive now.
The Boynesiders could be attracting much bigger numbers in this era.
Patrick Hickey demonstrated his worth as the Tribesmen turned over St Patrick's Athletic last week.
They recorded two good results in Louth last year, with a point and 3-2 success helping them secure a mid-table finish.
Drogheda could be without on-loan striker Josh Thomas as he picked up a knock having scored on his home debut against Sligo.
Douglas James-Taylor is out for the next two months with a knee problem. Thomas Oluwa could be set for a first start.
Kevin Doherty told the Drogheda Independent: "The priority is getting as many points as possible and seeing where that takes us, because that's the way we’ve done things for years.
"We could be down the bottom end of the table after the next two games and that’s why we don’t get carried away and set targets for the season.
"The priority is Galway on Friday and I’ve watched them score goals in both their games so far, and so we know it’s going to be very difficult on Friday.
"We all know about their set pieces, but they have strengthened their attack and they’ve created an awful lot of chances, and they’ve got some good footballers as well.
"The standout when you look at their games so far is Patrick Hickey. The goal he got the other night was very similar to the one he got in Cork and that’s something we’ll be mindful of."
