League Preview: Galway United -v- Shamrock Rovers

GALWAY UNITED

Sixth placed Galway United host fifth placed Shamrock Rovers Monday evening with the two teams locked on 42 points, a point behind Sligo Rovers and Waterford with two games in hand on those two sides just above them in the table. 

Goal difference means a draw would move both sides above Waterford and Sligo but a win could prove critical in the race for Europe. It would be an historic win for Galway should they pick up all three points as they haven’t beaten the Hoops in a competitive first team match since 2006.

John Caulfield’s men have two wins in their last six competitive games but only one loss. With the international break and the FAI Cup quarter-finals over the weekend, United haven’t played since their 1-0 home win over Derry City at the end of August.

The games between the sides this season have been so tight. The first match of the season ended in a 1-0 defeat for United with Johnny Kenny scoring the winner five minutes from time. Kenny scored a late equaliser in the 1-1 draw in April after Stephen Walsh had put United a goal up in the 55^th minute.

The Tribesmen led in Tallaght through Patrick Hickey in the 74^th minute before Danny Mandroiu equalised two minutes from time.

Speaking to extratime.com on Friday, Shamrock Rovers Head Coach Stephen Bradley spoke about the challenge that faces his team in Monday’s match. 

“We know what we are going into,” said Bradley. “John's teams are very very good at what they do. You have to respect them. They are very good in both boxes. They work extremely hard and are an extremely honest group. 

“They are having a brilliant season. We know we are going into a tough game. We aren't thinking about anything else. I believe that if this group is focused and ready like they were tonight we  can go anywhere and win and that will be the aim on Monday.” 

SHAMROCK ROVERS 

In the league, the Hoops have two wins and just one loss in their six games. That loss was against Bohemians before the international break but the Hoops had a good training block over the last fortnight and carry momentum into Monday’s match after a comprehensive 4-0 home win over Sligo Rovers on Friday.

It was their first clean sheet in the league since the start of July. 

“I thought we were very very good to be honest,” said the Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley about the win over the Bit O’ Red when speaking to shamrockrovers.ie on the eve of the game. 

“There was a lot of really good stuff. It’s no coincidence we had no distractions during the week. We had a full week to ten days training which was good, and I think you could see that. Parts of our performance on Friday were really good. There was a lot of that we’d been working on, so it was good to see it come through in the game.”

With Sligo Rovers’ early second half red card and the Hoops 2-0 up at that time thanks to a Johnny Kenny brace, Bradley was able to use his bench making all five substitutions by the 69th minute with Sean Hoare heading home two Jack Byrne second half set pieces 

“Sometimes a team going down to ten as Sligo did after 55 minutes can dig in or sit in and frustrate. We stayed focussed, kept probing, and looking to hurt them which is always important. We moved the ball really well and when the opportunity came to penetrate and hurt them.”

Shamrock Rovers are playing their second match of a five game-15 day spell as the Hoops don’t play in the Conference League until the start of October.

“We’ve a lot of games this month, that will also come into play when picking the team. Everyone will play their part. It’s about understanding that, as we go again in Derry next Friday, then the week after there are more big games.

"So, we pick a team to win the game in Galway but mindful that we have a heavy load coming up.”

European knock-out stage football belief for Stephen Bradley: ‘That is where we want to be’ https://t.co/Wu5O5DH5qRpic.twitter.com/9nooTsUfTg

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 14, 2024

Referee: Neil Doyle

PREDICTION

1 -1

MATCH STATS

The Hoops are 33 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.

Rovers’ Johnny Kenny with 12 goals is tied with Padraig Amond and Patrick Hoban at the top of the goalscoring table. Stephen Walsh is Galway United’s top scorer with seven goals.

Galway United

Injured: n/a

Doubtful: n/a

Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Rory Gaffney, Aaron Greene, Aaron McEneff 

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None