Drogheda United vs Shelbourne - prediction, team news, lineups

Drogheda United play big to Shelbourne connected Friday nighttime looking for the triumph that they necessitate to guarantee that they stay extracurricular of the bottommost 2 successful the League of Ireland Premier Division table.

Meanwhile, the visitors to Sullivan & Lambe Park are successful 5th place, 5 points adrift of the European qualification spots.

Match preview

When Drogheda recorded 3 wins from 4 matches betwixt April 24 and May 8, they appeared connected people to contention the mid-table spots and clasp ambitions to unafraid European qualification.

Instead, lone accumulating 2 points crossed their pursuing 5 matches leaves the Drogs sitting conscionable 2 points supra the relegation zone.

Most concerningly for manager Kevin Doherty, Drogheda person faced bottom-placed Waterford connected 2 occasions during that play and picked up conscionable 1 point.

That has contributed to Drogheda sitting conscionable 7 points supra past position, a concern not helped by losing 2-0 astatine second-placed St Patrick's Athletic past clip out.

Drogheda person present conceded 10 goals crossed 5 games, leaving them with the second-worst antiaircraft grounds (34 goals conceded successful 20 matches) successful the division.

In crisp contrast, Shelbourne are 1 of the signifier teams successful the League of Ireland Premier Division having enactment unneurotic an eight-match unbeaten run.

Four wins and 4 draws person been posted since May 1, portion 11 points person been collected from their past 5 fixtures.

Joey O'Brien's broadside person conceded conscionable 3 goals crossed their astir caller six fixtures, a immense betterment from shipping 24 goals from their opening 14 games of 2026.

Last clip out, Shelbourne recorded an eye-catching 2-1 triumph implicit leaders Shamrock Rovers, a effect that leaves them 11 points adrift of apical spot with a crippled successful hand.

Drogheda United League of Ireland Premier form:

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Shelbourne League of Ireland Premier form:

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Team News

Conor Kane could beryllium selected astatine near wing-back for Drogheda aft Kieran Cruise suffered an wounded during the archetypal fractional versus St Patrick's.

Mark Doyle has netted 8 times this campaign, 5 much than immoderate different Drogheda player. Four of his goals person travel successful his past 7 outings.

Such was the level of show against Shamrock past clip retired that O'Brien whitethorn sanction the aforesaid Shelbourne XI.

Mipo Odubeko made his archetypal commencement since February owed to wounded and delivered the decisive goal. Barring immoderate fittingness issues, helium should clasp his spot down the centre of the attack.

Playmaker Harry Wood contributed some assists against Shamrock, taking him to six goals and 7 assists from 20 top-flight appearances for the campaign.

Drogheda United imaginable starting lineup:

Talley; Agbaje, Burney, Keeley; Farrell, Brennan, Godden, Kane; O'Brien, Kavanagh; Doyle

Shelbourne imaginable starting lineup:

Speel; Mbeng, Bone, Barrett, Ledwidge; Lunney, Chapman; Caffrey, Wood, Kelly; Odubeko

We say: Drogheda United 0-1 Shelbourne

While Shelbourne person struggled for goals of late, they person impressed from a antiaircraft standpoint. With that successful mind, we are backing the visitors to travel done successful a competitory match, heaping further unit connected Drogheda who are starting to look similar genuine relegation candidates.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.