Preview: Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers to clash on biggest stage

The League of Ireland has not seen such popularity since the Match of the Day era of football, which led to diminishing attendances throughout the country after the hey day of the 1950s and '60s - when terraces thronged.

Shamrock Rovers have been leading the way in recent years, winning the league four times in the last five years, while continuing to blaze a trail on the European front.

The Hoops kicked off their season in style with an impressive away victory in Norway on Thursday night, and begin their league campaign against fierce rivals Bohemians today.

Bohs, likewise, have played a vital role in adding to the promotion of the league; from the posthumous signings of dynamic duo Bob Marley and Phil Lynott, before adding the creative Fontaines flair, and offering a touch of northern grit with the Kneecap trio proudly parading Palestinian paraphernalia.

The Phibsboro club have not forgotten where they have come from with their continued carpet collective, while they have just this week forged a stout partnership with another institution of the capital city as they maintain their drive to remain 'Dublin's Originals'.

And perhaps the most audacious move of all from the forward-thinking D7 outfit is the staging of their first home game of the season at the de facto national football stadium at Lansdowne Road.

Bohemians have been turning valuable punters away for the past few seasons; a victim of their own success with 'sold out' signs limiting their ability to drive up attendances at the dilapidated Dalymount.

Things will change on that front once the actual home of Irish football gets the long-awaited, and richly deserved redevelopment, but in the meantime a bold move to Aviva Stadium will certainly help on the financial