FAI Cup Preview: Galway United -v- Bohemians

GALWAY UNITED

The Tribesmen face off in their first FAI Cup semi-final since 2008 when they host Bohemians at Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday (kick-off 2.40pm).

The Dyke Road will be busy as the game has been sold out in advance with Terryland the place to be in Galway on Saturday afternoon.

United have made their home ground somewhat of a fortress this season with the side having won all of their games in Galway this season.

They saw off Athlone Town last Friday night to record their 18^th straight home win this season in a dominant performance which saw them run out 6-0 winners.

The Tribesmen are still showing their hunger despite wrapping up the First Division title two weeks ago when they defeated Kerry at Mounthawk Park.

Braces from Darren Clarke and Rob Manley and goals from Vince Borden and Stephen Walsh meant that Galway claimed a comfortable win against Athlone.

Walsh added another to his impressive tally for the season with the striker now up to 18 goals in all competitions coming into this weekend.

Not scoring on the night, but another player for Bohemians to keep an eye on is David Hurley. In addition to the midfielder’s numerous assists throughout the campaign he also has 24 goals to his name in all competitions, an impressive tally for the 24 year old.

The Tribesmen have had a tough road to this point in the competition having to see off two Premier Division sides in the run in but beating them well – 5-1 against UCD and 4-0 against Dundalk.

Another bumper crowd will be in Deacy Park on Saturday with strong attendances across the First Division campaign and 4,300 in attendance at the quarter final against Dundalk.

Club Captain Conor McCormack recognized the importance of the fans when he spoke to extratime.com earlier this week.

“The fans are massive. They build the atmosphere when you're doing the warmup when you know they're getting behind you,” he said.

“You know they're going to cheer on every tackle, even throw ins you know, it's stuff like that, like it pumps the adrenaline there's no doubt about it.

“The whole ground can get behind you, you know. And like when you're in the opposition team and you feel that things aren't going your way and the crowds are on your back and stuff like that it is hard because I've been in these situations before, hostile grounds like. “I’ve played against teams that have that as well. It's really important and it's really helped us this season with Galway getting really behind us. The fans have been unbelievable.”

In team news Colm Horgan and Ronan Manning have given a boost to the Tribesmen with both players coming back from injury to appear off the bench during their game against Athlone Town last week – it’s unclear if Francely Lomboto will feature in the matchday squad after the forward suffered an injury when Galway played Finn Harps last Monday week.

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians have been to this stage of the FAI Cup not so long ago – in 2021 they faced off against First Division opposition to secure a place in the Final.

On that occasion a single goal from Georgie Kelly made the difference over Waterford, this time they face the already confirmed First Division champions, Galway United, who have a perfect home record this season and have already taken two Premier Division scalps in the cup this season.

The Gypsies will be buoyed by their most recent fixture which saw them run out 3-1 winners over Sligo Rovers – despite a competitive first half, Bohs dominated the second half and secured the three points.

Two of the goals came from the boot of Bohemians much talked about striker Jonathan Afolabi, the 23 year old’s tally for the season is now up to 13 goals in the Premier Division (17 in all competitions).

Afolabi also had a recent call up to the Republic of Ireland national team and he will be a worry for Galway coming into Saturday’s fixture.

The two goals against Sligo came at a good time for the striker, he had failed to get on the score sheet in Bohemians’ two previous games so to secure a brace in the build up to a cup semi-final should fill Afolabi with plenty of confidence.

Their away form is a point of note heading into this weekend. While they have two wins away from home in the FAI Cup and Leinster Senior Cup respectively in recent months, they have gone ten away games in the Premier Division without a win.

The favourites tag still lies firmly with Bohemians and the Dublin side have another good opportunity to return to the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

“Look, we've done OK to get the semi-final again,” Bohs captain Keith Buckley said, speaking to extratime.com earlier this week.

“It’s another chance to get to the final it's 15 years without a trophy and for a club this size it's too long. It's way too long.

“We were unfortunate not to come out on the right side a couple years ago.

“If we stick to what we know and how we play and everybody in that starting eleven and subs play their part we have a belief that we will come through. But again, we can't be thinking too far ahead.”

In team news Bohemians have a full squad to choose from for their trip to Eamonn Deacy Park.

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

The sides last met in the second round of the 2018 FAI Cup – Bohemians travelled to Eamonn Deacy Park on that occasion and came away with a 2-0 win to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Granted, Galway United have been in the First Division for the past six seasons but the Tribesmen last beat Bohemians in September 2016 when the sides met in the Premier Division. United ran out 2-0 winners.

Galway United have won all of their home games in 2023 – that’s 18 wins in total at Eamonn Deacy Park in all competitions so far this season.

Bohs’ Jonathan Afolabi is the top scorer in the FAI Cup this season with four goals so far, he’s followed closely by Stephen Walsh and David Hurley who have three goals each for Galway United in the competition this season.

The Gypsies last made it to this stage of the competition in 2021 when they beat Waterford to make it to the final – they were eventually beaten by St Patrick’s Athletic in the Final.

It has been 15 years since Galway United were last at this stage of the competition. They hosted Derry City in 2008 when they lost out 1-0 to the Candystripes in front of less than 3,000 fans. The late Mark Farren scored the only goal of the game, however it would be Bohemians who would lift the trophy that season, they won the Final on penalties, which is the last time they won this competition.

BETTING

Galway United 2/1; Draw 23/10; Bohemians 11/10.

PREDICTION

Galway United 2–1 Bohemians

Galway United

Injured: Francely Lomboto.

Doubtful: Conor McCormack, Vince Borden.

Suspended: None.

Bohemians

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.