League Preview: Galway United -v- Longford Town

GALWAY UNITED

Galway United will look to extend their unbeaten run to seven games in the First Division when they host Longford Town at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

If the Tribesmen secure the three points they will have won all ten of their home games this season so far.

Although Longford proved to be their bogey team when they travelled to Bishopsgate earlier this year - they had won their first 11 games in a row before De Town secured a 1-0 win in May, it remains the only time Galway have lost this season.

That result didn’t slow them down all too much, aside from a 1-1 draw with Bray Wanderers since, they’ve conceded just three goals since the loss and won six games even winning 6-0 against Finn Harps in their second last game before the break.

United return after a rest from the mid-season break and a chance for a few players that had been suffering with knocks to return to full fitness they will be looking to keep the pressure on second placed Waterford who are still ten points behind.

“We’re back after the break and looking forward to our first game back, and a big crowd getting right behind us,” manager John Caulfield said, speaking to the club’s media team.

“Stephen has done a good job with Longford are the only team to beat us, they’ve been excellent. It’s going to be a very competitive, they’re defensively very strong.”

LONGFORD TOWN

De Town lie in second last place in the First Division and will be looking to turn things around on Friday night, albeit against formidable opponents.

Stephen Henderson’s side will have been pleased to reach the mid-season break after the side went on a three game losing streak with Cobh Ramblers, Athlone Town and Finn Harps all seeing off Longford.

That being said, they will take some confidence in that they are the only side to take three points off Galway United this year.

However, that fixture saw Longford score an early goal and manage to defend well with United having plenty of chances that they failed to convert on the night.

Longford still haven’t found their grove in front of goal with a better record than just Kerry so far this season, on the flip side Galway concede little and after 19 games teams have only scored eight times against them.

In team news, Longford has two suspensions with Darragh Lynch and Kyle O’Connor suspended for this round of fixtures

Their manager Stephen Henderson is also suspended after being sent off during their game against Athlone Town.

Referee: Alan Patchell

MATCH STATS

The only match Galway Untied have lost this season was to Longford Town in May. De Town ran out 1-0 winners at Bishopsgate.

Galway United have the best defensive record in the First Division with just eight goals conceded. Longford have the second worst record for goal scored with just 18 from 19 games played.

De Town haven’t won in Galway since 2020, since their return to the First Division they played Galway twice in Deacy Park. United knocked them out of last year’s playoffs with a 3-0 win.

PREDICTION

Galway United 2–0 Longford Town

Galway United

Injured: Callum McNamara.

Doubtful: Ronan Manning, Colm Horgan.

Suspended: None.

Longford Town

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Darragh Lynch, Kyle O’Connor.