Dundalk -v- Galway United
Credit:
Sean Connor heads east with his Galway United team to take on his old
charges at Oriel Park (k.o 7.45pm) hoping for their first victory at
the border venue since 2004. Both sides suffered defeats last Friday
conceding three goals in the process so both managers will be aiming
to tighten their defences in search of their first points to get their
season up and running.
Dundalk started brightly in the televised game at Tallaght Stadium last week and many observers would have considered them unlucky to have been pegged back to 1-1 at the break. However the first half dismissal of Peter Cherrie and defensive lapses eventually proved to be their downfall as Shamrock Rovers scored a second half brace through Gary Twigg. They also had Simon Madden to thank for a couple of goal line clearances to keep the scoreline the right side of respectability.
Ian Foster would have been happy to get his boys straight back in to action and they recorded a Setanta Cup 1-0 victory away to Glentoran on Monday night courtesy of a splendid winning goal from Mark Quigley. Nathan Murphy will probably deputise for the injured Eoghan Osborne in the left back slot and Paul Murphy will of course take the place of the suspended Peter Cherrie between the sticks.
Dundalk start as short odds favourites for the game but Ian Foster was quick to dismiss this as he told the club website “That means nothing to me; I don’t look at things like that. No game in this division is easy and I’m sure this game will prove that as well. I’ll take a 1-0 win in the last minute, if that’s what it takes. We’re after three points, we’re after a decent home record and hopefully we can start our winning ways.”
Through the pre season, the Setanta Cup and last weeks curtain raiser Dundalk have generally looked to carry a potent threat going forward but have yet to really settle at the back. It looks as though the number of goalless games involving them this season will be very few in number.
Galway cross the country after narrowly surviving the close season and Sean Connor will be aiming to squeeze the maximum from his hastily assembled squad as he returns to his old place of employment. Travelling with him will be a firm favourite of the home fans in the shape of Shaun Kelly. Shaun Maher of course also came within an ace of signing on the dotted line at Oriel in the pre season as Ian Foster searched for centre halves.
Whilst 3-0 last week may have been harsh on the Tribesmen the Galway manager has gone on record to say that this has been the worst pre season he has ever had and will be aiming for steady progress from his team as they settle in to his way of working and raise their fitness levels as he told the Galway Advertiser “We haven't had a good pre- season, in fact it has been the worst I have ever had to do as a manager. I have hardly been with the players, three deals were completed late on Wednesday, and I was out looking for more on Thursday. We didn't have that whole squad together once until the game and we are four weeks behind everybody else, but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to get on with it.”
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (Hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Peter Cherrie.
Galway United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Referee: P. Tuite
Paddy Power odds: Dundalk 1/3; Draw 10/3; Galway United 17/2.
Extratime prediction: 3-1 home win.
Dundalk started brightly in the televised game at Tallaght Stadium last week and many observers would have considered them unlucky to have been pegged back to 1-1 at the break. However the first half dismissal of Peter Cherrie and defensive lapses eventually proved to be their downfall as Shamrock Rovers scored a second half brace through Gary Twigg. They also had Simon Madden to thank for a couple of goal line clearances to keep the scoreline the right side of respectability.
Ian Foster would have been happy to get his boys straight back in to action and they recorded a Setanta Cup 1-0 victory away to Glentoran on Monday night courtesy of a splendid winning goal from Mark Quigley. Nathan Murphy will probably deputise for the injured Eoghan Osborne in the left back slot and Paul Murphy will of course take the place of the suspended Peter Cherrie between the sticks.
Dundalk start as short odds favourites for the game but Ian Foster was quick to dismiss this as he told the club website “That means nothing to me; I don’t look at things like that. No game in this division is easy and I’m sure this game will prove that as well. I’ll take a 1-0 win in the last minute, if that’s what it takes. We’re after three points, we’re after a decent home record and hopefully we can start our winning ways.”
Through the pre season, the Setanta Cup and last weeks curtain raiser Dundalk have generally looked to carry a potent threat going forward but have yet to really settle at the back. It looks as though the number of goalless games involving them this season will be very few in number.
Galway cross the country after narrowly surviving the close season and Sean Connor will be aiming to squeeze the maximum from his hastily assembled squad as he returns to his old place of employment. Travelling with him will be a firm favourite of the home fans in the shape of Shaun Kelly. Shaun Maher of course also came within an ace of signing on the dotted line at Oriel in the pre season as Ian Foster searched for centre halves.
Whilst 3-0 last week may have been harsh on the Tribesmen the Galway manager has gone on record to say that this has been the worst pre season he has ever had and will be aiming for steady progress from his team as they settle in to his way of working and raise their fitness levels as he told the Galway Advertiser “We haven't had a good pre- season, in fact it has been the worst I have ever had to do as a manager. I have hardly been with the players, three deals were completed late on Wednesday, and I was out looking for more on Thursday. We didn't have that whole squad together once until the game and we are four weeks behind everybody else, but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We just have to get on with it.”
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (Hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Peter Cherrie.
Galway United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Referee: P. Tuite
Paddy Power odds: Dundalk 1/3; Draw 10/3; Galway United 17/2.
Extratime prediction: 3-1 home win.
