Conor McGregor... probably won’t be at any of tonight’s games as he is in Iceland but you understand sport being a business, the selling process begins with me getting your attention.
When I’m writing my bulletins on a Friday I’m always wary about saying things like the "feature game" or "the one to watch" as if your club isn’t involved why would you care?
For fans of every club, their team plays is the big one but when putting scripts together it has to be looked at from a neutral point of a view. That's why in most bulletins, champions Dundalk's trip to Shamrock Rovers is tonight’s big one.
It’s a big enough game in the context of the league, but Pat Fenlon has lit the fuse by harping back to when the Louth side sealed the title in Tallaght last year. He told the Irish Sun. "I’ve no problem with them winning the title here, but I have a bit of a problem with what they did after it, in relation to their hoarding or board that they brought out about it."
"That was disappointing. They won the league at Tallaght. We know that. I thought that was disrespectful to us but that’s the way that football is. I have huge respect for Stephen, the players and the staff there but these things happen in football."
"We just have to deal with it but it was disappointing."
I hope I’m not a jinx on Shamrock Rovers, but the last two times I’ve been to see them, they drew 0-0 and lost 2-0 against Cork City and St Pats respectively. Given Dundalk’s attacking ability, sitting back and relying on defence is not an option tonight not that Rovers were planning on doing that anyway.
The game is Tallaght kicks off at 8 as does the encounter between Wexford Youths and fifth-placed Galway United. In the 7:45 games Finn Harps could leapfrog sixth placed Cork City in the table with a win at Turner's Cross, while second placed Derry City take on Bohemians at the Brandywell.
In the First Division, runaway leaders Limerick visit second-placed UCD. Elsewhere, Athlone Town play host to Cabinteely and Waterford United face Drogheda United at the RSC. All three matches there get underway at 7:45.
We preview all of this weekend's action with the Irish Sun's Neil O’Riordan in this weeks SSE Airtricity League Podcast while also reminiscing on better days for Waterford United and Johnny Logan.
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