League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Galway United

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The time for talk is over. St. Patrick’s Athletic will be the advocate of this sentiment for Friday’s league opener against Galway United as they move into action for the new season. Much has been made of their player overhaul that has witnessed a major transition within the club, with nine players leaving and a subsequent nine taking their place during the winter break.

The winning formula that has seen St. Pat’s claim every domestic honour since manager Liam Buckley has taken over has been firmly rejigged for 2016. Senior mainstays Killian Brennan, Greg Bolger, James Chambers and Kenny Browne have all left, leaving behind them a trail of untold domestic success.

Buckley was poised with the challenge of devising a new squad built to compete this season and transitioned he has.

Household League of Ireland stars Dinny Corcoran and Billy Dennehy are in, as well as young prospects Mark Timlin and Dylan McGlade, as well as the midfield backing of David Cawley, Graham Kelly and former Republic of Ireland international Keith Treacy.

A decent pre-season which saw wins over Athlone Town, Cabinteely and Shelbourne were set against a surprise Leinster Senior Cup exit to Bray Wanderers on a suspect Carlisle Grounds pitch. However manager Buckley did not present a figure too worried before the league campaign had even got underway in the game’s aftermath.

Friday’s game will present the Saints with another opportunity to get their new squad to gel and bond together.

When Buckley first took over for the 2012 Premier Division campaign he brought with him quality players like Greg Bolger, Killian Brennan and James Chambers - a team built on a foundation of quality that would go on to win the Premier Division a year later.

He has had to start all over again on the back of last season’s weary fourth place finish - 20 points off champions Dundalk, with Galway United presenting the first hurdle en route to what they hope will be a succesful season.

Buckley has said his side are very much eager to getting playing again in front of their home support in Inchicore.

“It feels like a long time since we last played so players and management are all looking forward to getting the season up and running”, he said speaking to stpatsfc.com. “We've made a number of signings and freshened up the squad so there'll be a lot of new faces for supporters to see on Friday,

While Mark Timlin and Sean Hoare suffered minor knocks during pre-season, both are in contention to play against Tommy Dunne’s side. Defender Lee Desmond suffered a minor knock during pre-season and will face a late fitness test.

Striker Christy Fagan played a full game versus Bray two weeks ago, however Jack Bayly will play no part against Galway due to a thigh strain.

GALWAY UNITED

Galway United performed admirable last season, finishing in 10th spot with nine wins from their first 33 games back in the Premier Division.

Much of that success was found in the inspiring form of star strikers Jake Keegan and Enda Curran, with the pair offering a haul of 22 goals between them last year.

Manager Tommy Dunne has completed an impressive task of revitalising and bulking up his squad for the coming season, bringing in eleven new faces to match the club’s eight departures.

Notable new signings will come in the form of Armin Aganovic, signed from Swedish club Mjalby AIF, Kevin Devaney from Sligo Rovers, former Galway starlet Vinny Faherty, Stephen Folan from Cork City, as well as Ruairi Keating and John Sullivan.

Aganovic will certainly be one to watch and will act as a prized asset for the Tribesmen who visibly struggled in the centre of defence last season. His singing along with Stephen Folan from Cork City will be certain to sure up their sides defence which leaked 61 goals last season.

Last season began in poor fashion for Galway, losing six of their opening seven games. However they recovered brilliantly to win four of their next six, including a 2-0 victory at the Brandywell, as well as a 5-0 drumming of Bray Wanderers to maintain their place in the Premier Division.

Dunne spoke about the challenge posed by a St. Pat’s side in transition. “St Patrick's Athletic will be one of the favourites. They've got stability with three of their back four being the same as last year.

“They've signed a lot of quality in the middle of the park in David Cawley and Graham Kelly. They've got a lot of strength in depth," Dunne explained to www.galwayunitedfc.ie.

"We need to be more physical and aggressive this season. We need to make sure that when a team plays against us, they're in a very competitive game and it's difficult for them."
 

This season will be tough to emulate considering the featured highs of making the EA Sports Cup Final held at Eamonn Deacy Park where they lost to Friday’s opponents St. Patrick’s Athletic on penalties - on top of a heroic 1-1 draw at Oriel Park versus champions Dundalk.

Manager Dunne will be hoping to get this season off to a better start with an achievable result away to the Saints. The last time these sides met was on the final day of last season where a tense and equally dramatic 1-0 win for St. Pat’s earned them European football for this summer.

The Tribesmen will not be offering them any easy favours this time round.

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH STATS

These sides have played each other a total of 72 times, with St. Pat’s winning 35, Galway United/Rovers winning 20 and 18 games ending in a draw.

All four meetings of these sides ended in a win for St. Pats last season; They were a 4-1 win in Eamonn Deacy Park,  a 3-1 victory in Richmond Park, a 1-0 win for St. Pats on the final day of last season in Galway, as well as the Saints penalty shoot-out win in September in the Final of the EA Sports Cup.

St. Pats have not lost to Galway at Richmond Park since July 2010. That game saw a 2-1 Galway win. While Galway’s biggest win at Richmond Park came seven years ago in March 2009 when an Ian Foster managed Galway F.C. ran way 3-0 winners. The Saints biggest win over the Tribesmen was a 6-1 victory in 2011.

BETTING

St. Patrick’s Athletic 4/9; Draw 3/1; Galway United 6/1.

PREDICTION

St. Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 Galway United

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Jack Bayly (thigh strain)

Doubtful: Lee Desmond

Suspended: None.

Galway United

Injured: Marc Ludden (foot), Alex Byrne (groin), Armin Aganovic (knee)

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.