League Preview: Dundalk -v- Galway United

DUNDALK

Dundalk play their second match in four days when they welcome Galway United who will be aiming to improve on their miserable record at Oriel Park on Monday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

This match was originally scheduled to be played on July 14^th but was brought forward to help Dundalk in their preparations for next month’s two-legged Champions League qualifier against Rosenborg.

The Lilywhites began preparations for their meeting with the Norwegian double-winners in the most exhilarating style with a 4-0 massacre of relegation-threatened Finn Harps on Friday night.

It was a performance which saw goalkeeper Gary Rogers, who received much criticism throughout the first half of the season, keep a sixth clean sheet in seven matches.

"It was a very good win for us on Friday evening against Finn Harps”, said Rogers.

“We need to win as many games as we can and make sure that we get our home form back up to the standard that we are used to and we have been good at home this year but we want to win each week.

“We planned to come back after the break in good form and to hit the ground running. We have managed to win our first two back which is great and we can move on now to the other games with confidence.”

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny has a full squad to choose from for the visit of Galway as Steven Kinsella has fully recovered from the back injury which kept him out of the win over Harps.

GALWAY UNITED

Galway now prop up the Premier Division table as they fell deeper into relegation trouble following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Bray Wanderers at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

Shane Keegan’s side may go into this fixture as the overwhelming underdogs but can take some confidence from their last gasp home win over the champions back in April.

"There is no doubt that Dundalk are close to getting back to their best”, said Keegan.

"On Friday, they secured an important 4-0 win against Finn Harps and before that they had another convincing win against Drogheda United.

“We know it will be difficult at Oriel Park, but we have the confidence and belief after beating them already this season that we can get another result against Dundalk.”

Gavan Holohan is ruled out of the match after sustaining an injury in Friday’s loss to Bray while Padraic Cunningham and Gary Shanahan – who scored that late winner in April – are both doubts.

Referee: TBC

MATCH FACTS

This will be the 83rd meeting of both sides and Dundalk have emerged victorious on 46 occasions whereas Galway United have won just 14 times since their first meeting in November 1977.

Galway’s last victory at Oriel Park was a 3-1 win in the First Division back in April 2004 – Colin Fortune, Dave Goldbey and John Russell were all on the scoresheet for Galway that night.

Dundalk are unbeaten in their previous 15 encounters against Galway at Oriel Park but did lose 3-0 to The Tribesmen when they temporarily played their home matches at Gortakeegan in 2005.

BETTING

Dundalk 1/7; Draw 6/1; Galway United 18/1.

PREDICTION

Dundalk 3-0 Galway United

Dundalk

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Galway United

Injured: Gavan Holohan.

Doubtful: Padraic Cunningham, Gary Shanahan.

Suspended: None.