Make no mistake, this is going to be MASSIVE!
Bohemians kick their LOI Premier Division campaign off on Sunday when they face arch nemeses Shamrock Rovers in a highly anticipated Lansdowne Road Dublin Derby.
A designated home game for the North Dublin side, this game is set to break all time attendance records, with over 25,000 tickets having been sold so far as of Tuesday evening.
The Hoops will definitely be fielding a more tired team when they will have been off the back of a UEFA Conference League knockout playoff away match vs Norway’s Molde, which is the reason for the two day delay to the start of these teams’ respective campaigns.
This game will therefore present a far fresher Bohs side an opportunity at an important opening day victory, with much of the focus being on former Sheffield United and Bournemouth striker Lys Mousset, who signed for the Gypsies last week.
There is no denying that this fixture will be a tasty one, with three former Bohs players lining out for Rovers – Danny Grant, Roberto ‘Pico’ Lopes, and Dani Mandroiu.
Add to this the fact that we are heading towards a record crowd for a League Of Ireland fixture, and there is set to be a charged atmosphere.
REVOLVING DOORS ON BOTH SIDES
Both sides have been incredibly busy in the transfer market during the off-season, including some returns of past players.
Bohs Business:
We’ve already wrote an article on Bohs’ transfer business, with Bohs having welcomed Colm Whelan, Niall Morahan, John Mountney, Kian Best ,Conor Parsons, Alex Lacey, and Lys Mousset to Dalymount Park.
The squad has also been bolsters by the very welcome returns of Keith Buckley and Rob Cornwall from injury, two long time servants to the club.
GOING GREEN AND WHITE:
Rovers too have been active in the transfer market this winter.
The Hoops have poached their rivals for Danny Grant to welcome the 25-year-old to Tallaght, meanwhile Ed McGinty has returned to Ireland, swapping Sligo for Shamrock Rovers after a time at Oxford.
Michael Noonan sticks southside to sign from St. Pat’s, Matt Healy stays green signing from Belgium’s Francs Borains, and Adam Matthews keeps a Shamrock on his chest signing from Cyprus’ AC Omonia Nicosia.
SMILE FOR THE CAMERA
For those who won’t be able to attend Sunday’s Lansdowne showdown, the game will be broadcast live on Virgin Media TWO, in a bumper weekend which will see Sligo vs Waterford also broadcast on Valentine’s Day.
However, if you are able to, tickets remain on sale. Be a part of League Of Ireland history and get your ticket to a record-breaking fixture for the league.