League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Galway United

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops welcome Galway United to Dublin 24 on Friday night – a venue where the visitors have failed to win on each and every occasion when they have travelled to Tallaght to take on Rovers in a first team competitive game. 

The league champions missed the chance of going top of the table on Monday after they played out a scoreless draw away to Shelbourne, making it four draws and one loss from their last five trips to Tolka Park.

However, the Hoops can jump above the league leaders should Stephen Bradley’s side defeat Galway (and they have won their last 21 competitive first team games against United) and if Damien Duff’s Shelbourne lose at home to St. Patrick’s Athletic.

It was a hard fought point last Monday with a result that left the Reds remaining top with the supporters in Drumcondra still are hoping that Duff could be the messiah that might lead his band of brothers back to winning titles.

With the amount of sand on the Tolka Park pitch, maybe Duff is the Lisan al-Gaib but safe to say Stephen Bradley wasn’t satisfied with the playing surface after the scoreless draw.

“The pitch killed the game in terms of it wasn’t a really good game and there wasn’t a lot of quality on show,” said Bradley speaking to shamrockrovers.ie.

“The pitch was awful. They put tons of sand on it during the week, it was extremely heavy, players couldn’t move, the ball wouldn’t move and it was bouncing up off the sand.” 

However, the Hoops Head Coach expressed himself “really satisfied” with the four point haul his team earned from last weekend, with the point at Tolka Park added to the three points claimed after the 3-1 win in Derry.

His club are facing into three weeks of double header Friday-Monday matches and Bradley said: “When you consider the journey to Derry on the Friday, playing on that pitch and the injuries we have, you would’ve taken four points over the weekend.

"So considering Derry away, then Tolka Park, on that pitch, you take the four points and move on.”

The lengthy injury list continues to grow with Gary O’Neill and Markus Poom both added to those who will be sitting in the stands in their tracksuits in Tallaght on Friday, along with Dan Cleary who is suspended. 

“Markus isn’t too bad, he should be ok for Monday’s game (against Drogheda United). Gary unfortunately will be 6-8 weeks, but for Graham (Burke), Jack (Byrne) and Seán Hoare we’re looking at next week to be back in the group all being well. 

“Lee (Grace) is in London at the moment and we’re waiting on feedback from the specialist. Neil (Farrugia) is doing really well and we’re also hoping next week he’ll be back involved. Aaron (McEneff) will be another 2-3 weeks.”

The Hoops required a late Johnny Kenny goal in Galway to break the Tribesmen’s hearts when the teams last played.

“We know what we’re facing a difficult game. John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan have been around the league a long time and John has been so successful in the league. They have a strong and together group of players and you must respect what they do.

"They’re dangerous in transition, dangerous at set-plays, you see with their results they can cause any team problems. 

“We know Galway will come extremely well organised and with a game plan to win. They’re very effective in what they do, we have to respect that. But we also know we’re at our best in Tallaght, we can win any game and our aim against Galway is nothing less than winning the game.”

GALWAY UNITED

Ollie Horgan will be back in the dugout in Tallaght as the main man shouting out instructions to his team on Friday as, due an ongoing suspension, United manager John Caulfield will be sitting up in the West Stand. 

“John and I have both had difficult days in Tallaght,” said Ollie Horgan speaking to LOITV during the week.

“If you aren’t right, you’ll be out the window before half time.

"If you are right and make it difficult, there is always a chance but it will take a serious effort to get something out of it.” 

The Tribesman come into the match unbeaten in three, with away draws against Sligo Rovers and Waterford either side of their win over Shelbourne at Eamon Deacy Park.

Aodh Dervin and Brendan Clarke made the LOI team of the week after the scoreless draw in Sligo.

United are sitting in fifth place on 15 points ahead of St. Pat’s on goal difference – and United have a game in hand over the Athletic.

United have the best defensive record in the league – that have conceded just six goals from their 11 games. They have scored six goals.

It is 30 years since Galway defeated Rovers in a competitive game away from home – that was in October 1994 when the Hoops were playing their home games in the RDS.  

Ollie Neary and Ronan Killeen scored the goals in the 2-1 to inflict Rovers’ first home defeat of the season on a day Derek Tracey scored the Hoops goal.

Referee: David Dunne 

MATCH STATS

The Hoops are 31 matches unbeaten against the Tribesmen. 

You have to go back to 2006, when both teams were playing in the First Division, for United’s last win over a Rovers first team.

Aaron Greene sits second in the league’s top scorer list with six goals, two behind Pat Hoban. Ed McCarthy is top scorer for Galway. The 23-year-old has two goals to his name.

PREDICTION

3-0 home win.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Graham Burke, Sean Hoare, Neil Farrugia, Lee Grace, Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff, Gary O’Neill, Neil Farrugia.

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Dan Cleary

Galway United

Injured: Colm Horgan, Garry Buckley

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Keith Coffey on coaching at the Shamrock Rovers Academy: ‘If we're just teaching these kids football, we’re wasting their time. It's person first, player second.’ https://t.co/iV0uVjAaXupic.twitter.com/e7FjnoX5eN

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 24, 2024