Shamrock Rovers predicted XI v TNS: Lowdown on ex-Preston North End, Wigan Athletic, and Leicester City men for Conference League clash

TNS are in UEFA Conference League action this week as they play Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night. 

There’s an element of intrigue as the Welsh champions face last season’s League of Ireland winners. Shamrock Rovers finished their league campaign on Friday, losing the title to Shelbourne, despite beating Waterford. 

Like The New Saints, they have a few former English Football League players in their ranks. They’ve so far drawn with APOEL and thrashed Larne, so they’re currently unbeaten.

To help get the lowdown on TNS’ opponents, we’ve sought the expertise of Extratime.ie journalist Macdara Ferris. Macdara is a contributor to the Shamrock Rovers match day programme, so they’re well placed to deliver their opinion.

Shamrock Rovers suffered heartache on the final day, losing the title. How much do you think that’s going to affect them going into Thursday?

Losing out on winning five league titles in a row in the last five minutes of the last match of the season, with Shelbourne winning late on in Derry to secure the title, was a bitter disappointment. However, having not been top of the table at any stage of this season until Shamrock Rovers took an early lead in that final game, there is a recognition that the Hoops didn’t do enough to win the league. 

They finished the domestic campaign very strongly (winning seven and drawing one of their last nine matches), coupled with four points from the six on offer so far in the Conference League, and so they carry that momentum into the game on Thursday.

They will be looking to put that league loss behind them and use that defeat as extra motivation to get a European win that could cement their place in the knock-out stage of the Conference League.

What do you know about Welsh domestic football, and how do you think the LOI might compare to the Cymru Premier?

The League of Ireland would be viewed as a stronger league compared with Wales. The league here is buoyant with the largest crowds going to games in decades. The success of Irish clubs in Europe – this is the fifth time a League of Ireland club has made group/league stage football – and a ranking position 17 places higher than Wales gives Rovers supporters confidence going into this home game.

However, the 4-1 aggregate win for TNS over Bohemians in the 2011 Champions League qualifiers is one that League of Ireland fans regard as a major shock and there is a knowledge that Welsh domestic football has strengthened considerably since that tie. The New Saints have proven themselves very capable in Europe winning matches over the last few seasons.

The wish list for League of Ireland clubs is to draw teams from Northern Ireland and Wales in Europe – due to the ease of logistics in travelling for any away game and the expectations that they are winnable ties. The 4-1 win for Rovers over Larne backed that up but TNS will provide stiffer opposition than the Irish League side.

A draw against APOEL and then a thumping win in an All-Ireland clash with Larne. What’s Shamrock Rovers objective in Europe this season? 

The objective was at the very least win their first group stage/league match and to go on to qualify for the knock-off stages. The win over Larne and the opening day home draw with APOEL means Rovers are really targeting three more points on Thursday but Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley has talked about being ambitious and looking to finish in the top eight to go straight into the round of 16.

What Shamrock Rovers players should TNS be most wary of?

Graham Burke was player of the match against Larne. He set up two goals and scored another and is Rovers’ record goalscorer in Europe with ten goals. The Ireland international sits joint third in the list of all-time League of Ireland scorers in Europe.

Like Burke, Jack Byrne is an Irish international, with the Hoops also having Pico Lopes (Cape Verde) and Markus Poom (Estonia) as additional internationals in their squad. Byrne has come into great form in the last few weeks having struggled with injuries for much of the season and he provides much of the creativity behind Johnny Kenny (who is on loan from Celtic) up top.

Dylan Watts is in brilliant form having scored the late equaliser against APOEL in Tallaght Stadium and finding the back of the net in each of the last three league games.

What is the perception of Shamrock Rovers in Ireland?

Many League of Ireland fans would look on enviously at Rovers. The club play in front of the biggest crowds (6,000 ave for 2024) and out of the best domestic football stadium in the league – one that was developed and is owned by South Dublin County Council.

Rovers have invested heavily in their academy structures – with an underage set up that is one of the best in the country.

The success in Europe (qualifying for the Conference League in two of the last three seasons) have provided Rovers with financial clout to secure the signing of some of the best players in the league.

Most fans of other clubs were happy to see Damien Duff’s Shelbourne win the league last Friday rather than Rovers who have dominated domestically over the last five seasons.

Shamrock Rovers predicted XI

Rovers (3-4-3): Leon Pohls; Dan Cleary, Pico Lopes, Lee Grace; Neil Farrugia, Dylan Watts, Gary O’Neill, Darragh Burns; Jack Byrne, Johnny Kenny, Graham Burke.

(Image:FromMorningToMidnight/Wikimedia Commons)