League Preview: Galway United -v- Bohemians

GALWAY UNITED

Galway United will be looking to secure another positive result when they host Bohemians at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Tribesmen sit in fourth place after seven games and are coming off the back of a great result against Derry City in the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Friday night.

Few observers of the league would have given Galway United much of a chance of coming away with three points when they travelled to Derry, but they did just that when they won 0-1 on Friday.

United had been in the ascendency in the second half with Aodh Dervin causing a lot of trouble on the right wing only for John Caulfield to hook the midfielder and put Stephen Walsh into the game.

It proved to be a great decision with the striker causing trouble as soon as he came off the bench and he got his reward when he got on the end of a long Karl O’Sullivan ball and placed a shot into the bottom corner of the net in the 85^th minute.

After narrow losses to St Patrick’s Athletic, Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers before the international break John Caulfield’s men will be very pleased to have gotten a win over one of the top teams in the division as they head into Monday night.

That was also their first win in four games so that result puts an end to what could have become a tricky run of form for the Tribesmen.

In team news, Garry Buckley, Colm Horgan and Wassim Aouachria did not appear in the match day squad yet again on Friday night so it is unlikely that either of the three will feature against Bohemians on Monday.

BOHEMIANS

In front of 10,094 spectators at Tallaght Stadium, Bohemians began life fully under new boss Alan Reynolds.

It was an inauspicious start for the new boss, in what was a challenging fixture to take charge of – given it was a Dublin Derby.

Reynolds side lost 3-1 which is the fifth time in a row that Bohemians have been defeated in Tallaght.

Johnny Kenny opened the scoring in the 49^th minute with Darragh Burns and Aaron Greene adding goals later in the second half to give Rovers a commanding 3-0 lead.

Declan McDaid scored a consolation goal in injury time, but Bohemians were left to lick their wounds after a 3-1 defeat to the fierce rivals.

Bohemians can still draw level on points with Galway United with a win on Monday night – and they will be somewhat familiar with the surroundings having beaten the Tribesmen at Eamonn Deacy Park in their FAI Cup semi-final last year.

New boss Alan Reynolds will also be extremely familiar with the Tribesmen having been assistant manager to Keith Long at Waterford up until last week.

He would have faced Galway on numerous occasions during the 2023 season in the First Division, and once this season – Galway United won 2-1.

In team news Bohemians are still without Maritn Miller, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley.

Referee: Gavin Colfer

MATCH STATS

Granted, the sides have only met a handful of times since 2017 but including the FAI Cup Bohemians are unbeaten in the last five games against United.

Galway United last beat Bohemians in September 2016 in the Premier Division. The Tribesmen ran out 2-0 winners at Eamonn Deacy Park.

This is their first league meeting since September 2017 when the side drew 1-1 at Dalymount Park.

BETTING

Galway United EVS; Draw 23/10; Bohemians 5/2.

PREDICTION

Galway United 1–0 Bohemians

Galway United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Garry Buckley, Colm Horgan, Wassim Aouachria.

Suspended: None.

Bohemians

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.