League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Galway United

Anto Breslin in action for St Patrick's Athletic

Anto Breslin in action for St Patrick's Athletic Credit: Matthew Lysaght (ETPhotos)

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St Patricks Athletic's ascent up the league table is one of the many intriguing aspects of the 2024 Premier Division.

And they have now come from the relegation zone to being one of the dark horses for the league title in the space of a few months.

They certainly are the most consistent teams in the league in recent times, losing only twice in 16 games in all competitions and they are now only four points adrift of leaders Shelbourne with three games left to play.

They now have back-to-back home games to play before finishing the season with an away trip to Sligo Rovers on the last day of the season on November 1.

Derry City come to Inchicore for the last home game next weekend but before that Pats have a tricky encounter with Galway this Friday night.

The share the same number of points as the Tribesman, 50, but have a better goal difference and hence occupy fourth place on the table with John Caulfield’s side in fifth place.

They prepare for this game on foot of another excellent performance when they saw off Dublin rivals Bohemians by 3-1 at Dalymount Park on Monday night.

Chris Forrester, Jake Mulraney and Joe Redmond all hit the net against Bohs and those three goals brought their goal tally to 18 in their last six league games.

Manager Stephen Kenny spoke with the Pats media team in advance of the game and he said: "Our players have scored 21 goals in three games, an average of three goals a game, they are playing with a lot of confidence, we are not relying on any one individual for the goals, the goals are equally spread throughout the team.



"The players have shown a lot of quality but now it’s a big test against Galway, they have had an excellent season and will be tough opposition and we will have to be at our best when we meet them."

GALWAY UNITED

Galway were the last team to take points off St Patrick's Athletic back in mid-August and they will be looking for a similar outcome when the travel across the M6 to Inchicore this Friday afternoon.

Like their opponents, Utd have also been a great run of form having only lost once in their last 11 games, that a 2-1 loss to Shamrock Rovers in mid-September.

Their confidence levels are high at present so they will have no fears about tackling the high -flying Pats in this, their second last visit to the capital this season.

They were a little unlucky not to get all three points in their last match a fortnight ago but eventually had to settle for a point against Dundalk in Eamonn Deacy Park.



The led the Lilywhites by a single Patrick Hickey 41st minute goal only for Eoin Kenny (son of St Patricks Athletics’ manager Stephen Kenny) to grab a 96th minute equaliser and leave the final score 1-1.

Manager John Caulfield spoke with GalwayUnitedFC.ie this week and he said: "We’re looking forward to the game. 

"Stephen has come in and done an incredible job, as everyone would have expected. They’re on a fantastic run with a glorious chance of winning the league. 

"Their form has been red-hot, after taking 22 out of 24 points from the last eight games.

"We know we’re going into a game where they are the red-hot favourites. All year, our lads have been fantastic. They’ve been up against it right from the start of the season and have done brilliantly. We know it will take an incredible performance to get a result."

In team news Greg Cunningham, Maurice Nugent, and Junior Ogedi-Ozokwe are all out for the rest of the season. 

Referee: Neil Doyle

 

MATCH STATS

St Patrick's Athletic have not been beaten by Galway this season, beating them twice and drawing the most recent encounter in Galway

They won once in Galway and once at home, with the last game being a 1-1 draw in Eamonn Deacy Park.

In that draw, Jay McClelland scored for Pats in the 27th minute with Ed McCarthy equalising for Galway Utd in the 54th minute

PREDICTION

St Patrick's Athletic 2-1 Galway United 

 

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: None

Doubtful:  None

Suspended: None

 

Galway United   

Injured: Greg Cunningham, Maurice Nugent, Junior Ogedi-Ozokwe

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

About Patrick O'Connor

View Full Profile