20.00 3 Apr 2015 -
Referee: Robert Rogers
League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Galway United FC
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Apr 03 2015
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers go into Friday's game unbeaten in their opening five fixtures. However, consecutive blanks at home to Cork City and city rivals Bohemians will be a source of some concern for manager Pat Fenlon.
Rovers controlled last Friday's game against Bohs comfortably but failed to convert possession into chances until the final ten minutes, when a mixture of Bohs' goalkeeper Dean Delaney, desperate defending and the questionable denial of a last-minute penalty earned the visitors what was, on balance, a deserved point.
The Hoops have only scored once in front of their home fans in three games this season (compared to four in two on the road) and will see a game against injury-and-suspension-riddled Galway United as the perfect opportunity to cut loose. With Danny North set to return to the starting line-up following an injury-enforced absence, it would be a smart bet to back them scoring at least once.
GALWAY UNITED FC
Galway suffered the deflation of conceding a last-minute winner at Longford on Saturday night, having fought manfully for 65 minutes with only ten men, following defender Stephen Walsh's harsh red card.
Galway took the lead early on through American striker Jake Keegan, but struggled following Walsh's dismissal and were punished with two goals from former Shamrock Rovers players, Pat Flynn and Don Cowan. To make matters worse, captain Sam Oji was sent off for the second consecutive game for a headbutt on Flynn.
Such ill-discipline will seriously hamper Galway's season should it continue, and Tommy Dunne will need his makeshift defence (American Kevin Garcia is likely to make his second start) to be impeccably behaved if they're to take any points back to Galway.
Referee: Derek Tomney.
MATCH STATS
Shamrock Rovers have never met the current incarnation of Galway United FC, however the now-defunct Shamrock Rovers B met the then-Galway FC four times in 2014. The first two games were drawn, and Galway won the final two meetings by an aggregate score of 8-0.
The Tribesmen haven't beaten Shamrock Rovers since 2006 when both were competing in the First Division, and haven't beaten the Hoops away from home since a 2-1 victory at the RDS in 1994.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 1/3; Draw 10/3; Galway United 10/1
PREDICTION
Shamrock Rovers 2 – 0 Galway United
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Luke Byrne (hamstring).
Suspended: None.
Galway United FC
Injured: Killian Cantwell (knee), Aaron McDonagh (knee), David O'Leary (knee).
Doubtful: Ryan Connolly (hip), Gar Hanley (achilles), Marc Ludden (knee).
Suspended: Sam Oji, Stephen Walsh.