TALLAGHT-BORN football journalist Tony Incenzo previews a big match taking place in his home town.
My first family home was on Bancroft Avenue in Tallaght. Therefore I hold fond memories of watching local team Shamrock Rovers play at their much-loved and sadly demolished Milltown headquarters when I was a young lad.
- Score prediction: Rovers recovery 3-0. Keep on Hoopin’!
But now they are firmly established at Tallaght Stadium which will be packed to the rafters on Tuesday night. With everything to play for against FC Ararat-Armenia, here’s a considered preview and score prediction to assist your football betting…
Shamrock Rovers v FC Ararat-Armenia Odds:
- Shamrock Rovers – 7/10
- Draw – 5/2
- Ararat-Armenia – 10/3
First Leg Review
Scrappy second half goals by Sandro Lima (51 minutes) and Zidane Banjaqui (80 mins) were decisive for FC Ararat-Armenia at Vazgen Sargsyan Republican Stadium (attendance 3,900) in the Armenian capital Yerevan.
Despite truly blistering heat, the Hoops had a great opportunity to take a vital goal back to Tallaght late on but substitute Jonathan Afolabi’s lob drifted wide of the post.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley said: “I felt we controlled the first half where we did OK and created some half chances that we could possibly have done better with. The game unfolded just like we thought it would because we nullified Ararat’s attacking threats. A lot of our performance was good.
“We have an experienced team and we spoke in our dressing room at half-time about starting the second half in the same way. Then we got sloppy and we were punished. We did some things you cannot afford to do on a football pitch, particularly away from home in Europe. I was frustrated by the nature of the two goals we conceded and the timing of them too. You don’t win any game by making mistakes.
“Jonathan Afolabi is naturally disappointed he didn’t score. He’s frustrated although I am sure we will create chances in the return at Tallaght Stadium. My players know it is just half-time at this stage so we get ready for the second leg.
“And we are aware of what we are capable of doing back in Dublin. We can beat anyone on our home turf. It will be the sole aim on Tuesday. Our supporters will be loud to bring us the energy that the players will feed off. However we must cut out the mistakes.”
Shamrock Rovers Preview
Rovers have enjoyed great European nights against Tottenham Hotspur (2011) and Chelsea (2024) in recent years. Presently sitting seven points clear at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division table, the Tallaght men protect a four match unbeaten LOI run.
Home form is especially strong reflecting nine wins, two draws and merely one defeat during 2026 LOI combat. Overall, Rovers were crowned champions five times in the past six years.
In trying to overturn the two goal deficit on Tuesday night, it is definitely worth remembering Rovers also lost 2-0 away to Floriana of Malta in the Champions League First Qualifying Round First Leg earlier this month.
Yet the Hoops subsequently pulled off a dynamic 5-1 Second Leg triumph in Tallaght courtesy of strikes by Lee Grace (7 minutes), Dylan Watts (29 mins), John McGovern (48 mins), Graham Burke (61 mins) and Jack Byrne (73 minutes) for a 5-3 aggregate victory. The attendance at Tallaght Stadium was 5,466.
Ararat-Armenia Preview
Founded as recently as 2017. They were champions of the Armenian Fastex Premier League last season by a four point margin over runners-up FC Noah. Their head coach ‘Tulipa’ (Manuel Jorge da Silva Cruz) was named the 2025/26 Armenian Premier League Coach of the Season.
The former Portugal international has been in charge since 3rd June 2025. In this year’s Champions League First Qualifying Round, Ararat-Armenia narrowly edged Riga FC 4-3 on aggregate (2-0 home win, 2-3 away defeat).
Coming up: The winner of this tie will face either Albania’s KF Egnatia or NK Celje of Slovenia the Third Qualifying Round next month.
*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*
