Eye on Rovers

Shamrock Rovers v Derry City Opposition Overview (March 2026)

Pól O’Hare

Derry City are on the road for the first time in league action this year, visiting Tallaght Stadium where they won the President’s Cup just under five weeks ago. Shamrock Rovers lie in wait and, after winning the league in five of the last six seasons, will aim for a similar outcome this year. With Derry finishing just three points behind the Hoops last season, all eyes will be on this potentially crucial encounter on Friday night.

Incomings

• Enda Stevens (Stoke City)
• Jake Mulraney (St Patrick’s Athletic)
• Adam Brennan (UCD)
• Conor Malley (Sligo Rovers)
• Tunmise Sobowale (St Mirren – loan)
• Maleace Asamoah (Wigan Athletic – loan)
• Luke O’Regan (UCD)
• Naj Razi (Como)

Outgoings

•  Josh Honohan (Lincoln City)
•  Aaron McEneff (Glentoran)
•  Conan Noonan (Waterford)
•  Darragh Nugent (St Patrick’s Athletic)
•  Seán Kavanagh (coaching role)
•  Callum Honahan (Cobh Ramblers – loan)
•  Cian Barrett (Waterford – loan)
•  Luke O’Regan (UCD – loan)
• Eric Koufie (Kerry – loan)
• Matthew Britton (Kerry – loan)

Shamrock Rovers had the second best defence in the league last season, conceding just once more than St Patrick’s Athletic. With stalwarts Pico Lopes, Dan Cleary and Lee Grace ever-present at centre back, Ireland U19 international Cory O’Sullivan broke into the Rovers backline early last season and impressed on the left. As it stands, Cape Verde international
and captain Lopes is the Hoops’ top scorer in the league with two. The winter additions to Rovers’ defence have bolstered it further, with 26 time Ireland international Enda Stevens returning to the club he left for Aston Villa as a 21 year old back
in 2011. A natural left back, he can also deputise at centre back.

The loan signing of Tunmise Sobowale may prove to be another coup for Bradley. The 26 year old joins from St Mirren having spent time in the LOI with Waterford, Finn Harps and Athlone Town in the past. With Ed McGinty between the sticks, Rovers seem to have a formidable defensive line.

The return of Jack Byrne from a loan spell at Dubai Irish may feel like a new signing, seeing that the former Ireland international hadn’t played for Rovers since July last year. With Daniel Mandroiu injured long term, his creativity can be key for the Hoops. The arrival of Jake Mulraney from rivals St Pat’s is a statement signing, as is the loan signing of former
Waterford winger Maleace Asamoah from Wigan Athletic. The latter will be suspended for Friday’s game after seeing red in his final game for the Latics. Fellow winger Victor Ozhianvuna will move to Arsenal for in a multi-million Euro transfer when he turns eighteen, while nineteen year old Naj Razi returns to Rovers after departing in 2024 for Italian side
Como. Dylan Watts, Matt Healy and Conor Malley are other potential gamechangers in the middle.

Shamrock Rovers topped the scoring charts in the league in 2025. Those 56 goals were well shared between the team, too. Veteran forward Rory Gaffney found nine in the league while PFAI Player of the Year nominee Graham Burke scored eight. Third in the charts was now departed fullback Josh Honohan with six, while nine further players scored twice or more for
the Hoops in the Premier Divisioom. Seventeen year old Michael Noonan also found six in league action and was rumoured to be targeted by Celtic and Hoffenheim in January. He has already opened his account for the year, while winger Adam Brennan bagged a goal and assist on his league debut against St Pat’s after signing from UCD.

Form

Juggling league, cup and European league phase action late last year, Rovers suffered a stuttering finish in the Premier Division, winning one of their last five games. That run didn’t deter Rovers, who beat Cork City to lift the FAI Cup just a week after winning the league, claiming the domestic double. Rovers’ most impressive European result was probably their
playoff victory over Portuguese side Santa Clara, before drawing away to AEK Athens in November in league phase action. Losses to Shakhtar Donetsk (2-1), Breidablik (3-1), Celje (2-0) and Sparta Prague (4-1) saw the Hoops finish 31 st in the UEFA Conference League.

Following wins over Blackrock College (3-2), UCD (2-0 and 2-1), Longford Town (6-0) and Treaty United (3-0) in preseason, Rovers saw their start to the league season disrupted with back-to-back match postponements due to bad weather. A comfortable 2-0 win over St Pat’s was followed by a 1-1 draw with Dundalk, when former City striker Danny Mullen scored an injury time equaliser. Last week, Rovers fell to a 3-2 defeat to bitter rivals Bohemians, scoring both their goals in stoppage time, and currently sit sixth in the league with a game in hand on eight of the nine other sides.

Head to Head
Derry City have won their last two games against Shamrock Rovers, picking up a 2-1 win in the Brandywell last October and a 1-0 President’s Cup triumph in Tallaght in January. Those were City’s first consecutive wins over Rovers since 2023. Prior to Derry’s most recent victories, Shamrock Rovers beat City in four of the last ten encounters in all competitions.

Four more were draws, while City’s win late last year was their first victory against Rovers since March 2023. Just one of the  last sixteen meetings between these two has ended goalless, while four red cards were flashed in the four clashes last year. This usually isn’t one to pass quietly.