Two teams fighting at opposite ends of the League of Ireland Premier Division table will do battle in a key contest on Friday, as Shelbourne welcome Dundalk to Tolka Park. Despite suffering a defeat last time out, the hosts remain at the top of the table with a two-point lead over second place, while their visitors narrowed their gap to automatic safety with a crucial return to winning ways against St Patrick's Athletic on Monday. Shelbourne return to action on Friday aiming to bounce back to winning ways and strengthen their position at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division, having suffered a rare setback last time out in what has been an eye-catching start to the campaign.
Aiming to win the top flight for the 14th time in their history and the first time since 2006 after a fourth-placed finish last time around, the Shels have established them as frontrunners this term by earning 37 points from their first 20 outings, winning 10 of those while only suffering three defeats. That has largely been down to their fine defensive record thus far, with no other side conceding as few as the 14 goals that Damien Duff 's side have shipped thus far, and they pulled clear at the summit with an eight-game unbeaten run between late April and late May, collecting 16 points and only allowing three goals along the way. That hot streak culminated in consecutive triumphs over Waterford, St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers, with Will Jarvis netting both goals in a 2-0 victor.
