League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Galway

SHELBOURNE

The Reds will be looking to keep the pressure on the top of the WNL table when they host Galway at Tolka Park on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).

Noel King’s side have lost just one game this season when they lost 2-1 to Peamount United back in April.

Since that lost they have won twice and they find themselves in third place in the WNL.

Last weekend Shels ran out 5-0 winners over Treaty United which will have pleased their manager as they look to stay in touch with Peamount and Wexford Youths.

Noelle Murray opened the scoring for the Reds with two goals in the first half before Jessica Ziu, Jessie Stapleton and Emily Whelan all added to the goals in the second half to secure the victory.

With Shelbourne in decent form this season, and with a great record against Galway it should be well within their reach to secure a third win in a row this Saturday.

The Reds are without the services of Chloe Mustaki and Rebecca Creagh as the pair continue their recoveries from long term injuries while Alex Kavanagh is also expected to be out long term.

Noel King has called up academy striker Abbie Larkin to join the senior squad for the rest of the season.

GALWAY

The Tribeswomen have had an up and down season so far this WNL campaign with two losses from their first five games.

One of those losses came in their last game which was against Wexford Youths which saw them lose 5-0 at Ferrycarrig Park.

The sides seemed to be very even in the game until Shauna Fox headed into her own goal to give Youths the lead.

Lynn-Marie Grant added a second goal three minutes later to effectively kill the game and more of the same followed in the second half to give Galway their toughest day out this season so far.

Attention now turns to Shelbourne this weekend and if Billy Clery’s side want to keep in touch with the top teams in the League they’ll have to try their hardest to get a result this Saturday.

Galway had a bye week last week and if they can come into the game well rested, and with Rachel Kearns back in the side they could give the Reds a run for their money this week.

MATCH STATS

Shelbourne have lost to Galway just once in the WNL. Galway won 3-0 at Tolka Park in March 2016 with Keara Cormican, Shauna Fox and Lucy Hannon all among the goals for the Tribeswomen.

The Reds have lost just one game this season and Noel King’s side are on a two game winning streak coming into Saturday.

Rachel Kearns is still top of the goal scoring charts with six goals so far this season.

BETTING

Shelbourne 2/9; Draw 7/2; Galway 9/1.

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 2–1 Galway

Shelbourne

Injured: Rebecca Creagh, Chloe Mustaki, Alex Kavanagh.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Galway

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Therese Kinnevey.