Reds Return to Tolka for Dundalk Clash in Easter Double Header | OneFootball

Shelbourne FC return to Tolka Park on Friday night as they take on Dundalk in the first of an Easter double header in the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division. Kick off is at 7:45pm. The game is live on LOITV.

The Reds come into the game following the international break, having taken four points from their last two outings before the pause.

A 1-0 win away to Sligo Rovers was preceded by a 0-0 draw with Bohemians at Tolka Park.

Speaking to ShelsTV after training, Joey O’Brien delivered a positive injury update: “Paddy Barrett is back in training, it’s great to have him back in the mix. He’s worked really hard and is actually ahead of schedule, so it’s a big positive to have him back in full training with the group. Credit to Pat and the medical team, that’s a boost.

“On the longer-term side, Sean Moore, Odhran Casey and Milan Mgeng are still out. Mipo is progressing well though, he’s ticking along nicely and same as Pat won’t be out as long as we first feared. Ellis was back on the bench against Sligo, and we’ll look to introduce him gradually over the next few weeks.”

Following the loss of Sam Bone, Casey and Barrett to injury, O’Brien was keen to highlight the impact of Zeno Ibsen Rossi who has stepped in: “Credit to the lads who have been playing, they’ve been excellent.

With Zeno, it’s something we speak about a lot, what you invest is what you get back. It’s about how you buy into the group. He’s come in, he’s not Irish, not local, but he’s embraced the dressing room, got to know the lads, done his homework.

He’s been a proper professional, he’s bought into everything we’re trying to do here and he’s made a real impact.”

Reflecting on results before the break, O’Brien said: “We played five games in two weeks, and the performances were there in all of them. Even with a few bodies missing, the lads have stuck at it and dug out results.

From Monday against Bohs rolling into Sligo, it’s a tough place to go and it was a tough game. We probably could have made it a bit easier for ourselves by getting that second goal, but Sligo threw everything at us late on and Wes made a great save. Overall, it’s a big win.”

Dundalk have enjoyed a good start to live back in the Premier Division, O’Brien has been impressed by the Louth outfit:

“Dundalk have been brilliant, they’ve done really well. When you look at their games and performances, even the one they lost, it wasn’t a 4-0 game against Pats. They’ve been very strong.

Ciaran has done a great job, they’ve got lads in there who know the league and understand what it’s about. They’ve been very impressive.

“Bohs are flying at the moment, and I actually thought Dundalk were the better team in that game, so that tells you where they’re at. When you’re going to Dalymount and coming away disappointed not to win, it says a lot about the level they’re performing at.”

There will be some familiar faces returning to Tolka in Dundalk colours, Conor Kearns is on loan at Oriel Park, but misses out through injury. Former Reds JR Wilson, Tyreke Wilson, Gbemi Arubi, and Aodh Dervin now ply their trade at Oriel Park. O’Brien knows they have quality throughout their squad:

“They’ve a good few players in there, including who did well underage Harry Groome and Harvey Warren, lads who have their whole careers ahead of them

Gbemi is a young player we had a lot of time for, but he wanted to move on and get more games, which you can understand.

They’ve real quality as well, Daryl Horgan brings that class and experience, and Eoin Kenny has been very good for them.”

The Drumcondra  endstand make a long awaited return to action after significant investment to return it to glory, O’Brien feels its an indication of the brilliant work happening behind the scene:

“It’s a reflection of where the club is going and the improvements that have been made. You can see it around Tolka, in the dressing rooms, the meeting rooms, everything. It’s come on so much.

The most obvious and most important one is the pitch, it’s in great condition and it plays brilliantly, which makes a big difference. Credit to the groundsman Daniel for the job he’s done there.

I was sitting in the stand myself watching a game and you can really see the standard now, it’s a credit to the work that’s been done by the lads behind the scenes. It always looks great, fans in a stand behind the goal, seen some of the footage of fans there over the years, it will be great to have it back”