Galway United -v- Dundalk
Credit:
Dundalk defender Colin Hawkins is weary of complacency creeping in to his side’s trip west on Friday, as Galway United welcome the Lilywhites to Terryland Park (Kick-off 7.45pm). Sitting five points off 5th place Bohemians in the Airtricity League Premier Division, Dundalk will bank on coming away with all three points against the Tribesmen.
United haven’t taken a competitive point in the league since the 8th April, and as such will head in to the tie as clear underdogs to a Dundalk team who have won five times on the road during this campaign. Speaking ahead of the tie to www.dundalkfc.com, the Galway born defender is clear of what his side need to do to secure the win.
“We have done very well against Galway this year. We have gone out with a professional attitude, and the manager will be desperate that we do the same again. We’ve played well in the last couple of games, so if we take that into this game then we should be OK. It’s all about your attitude when you play the likes of Galway and Drogheda.
“You have got to be up for it, just as much as we were last weekend against Rovers. We have got to treat each game the same and give the opposition the respect they deserve. We’ll go out and do a professional job and hopefully bring three points back home.”
His side have comfortably secured maximum points from their previous league games against Galway this season and Hawkins appears fully focussed on his clubs performance rather than with his hometowns’ abysmal 2011 campaign.
“They obviously have a lot of problems there, both on and off the pitch. We just need to go down and capitalise on that and not worry about their plight. We’re desperate for three points, we need a win and we need a clean-sheet, which should be a big confidence booster going into a big, big week next week.
“They have lost some experienced campaigners, the likes of Shauny Maher. They’re missing out on the experience. They have a lot of young kids and they’re finding it very difficult; they’re making a lot of mistakes every week.
“We’ll get on with the last eight games, hopefully pick up as many points as we can, and see how high we can finish. We’re all desperate to do that because we don’t want the season just to peter out with nothing. We want to keep going and do as well as we can for ourselves and for the club,” announced Hawkins.
On the injury front, Ian Foster’s charges will be without the services of a number of players, including; Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Stephen Maher (fractured metatarsal), Paul Murphy (back) and Chris Kerr (hamstring). Greg Bolger won’t make the trip out west as he is suspended. For Galway, they will be looking for their second win of the season without Johnny Keane (knee), Sean Kelly (knee) and Victor Collins (ankle) whilst they can welcome Laurence Gaughan back from suspension.
Galway United
Injured: Johnny Keane (knee), Sean Kelly (knee), Victor Collins (ankle).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Stephen Maher (fractured metatarsal), Paul Murphy (back) and Chris Kerr (hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Greg Bolger.
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Paddy Power Odds: Galway United 10/1, Draw 11/2, Dundalk 2/11.
Extratime prediction: Dundalk to win 0-3.
United haven’t taken a competitive point in the league since the 8th April, and as such will head in to the tie as clear underdogs to a Dundalk team who have won five times on the road during this campaign. Speaking ahead of the tie to www.dundalkfc.com, the Galway born defender is clear of what his side need to do to secure the win.
“We have done very well against Galway this year. We have gone out with a professional attitude, and the manager will be desperate that we do the same again. We’ve played well in the last couple of games, so if we take that into this game then we should be OK. It’s all about your attitude when you play the likes of Galway and Drogheda.
“You have got to be up for it, just as much as we were last weekend against Rovers. We have got to treat each game the same and give the opposition the respect they deserve. We’ll go out and do a professional job and hopefully bring three points back home.”
His side have comfortably secured maximum points from their previous league games against Galway this season and Hawkins appears fully focussed on his clubs performance rather than with his hometowns’ abysmal 2011 campaign.
“They obviously have a lot of problems there, both on and off the pitch. We just need to go down and capitalise on that and not worry about their plight. We’re desperate for three points, we need a win and we need a clean-sheet, which should be a big confidence booster going into a big, big week next week.
“They have lost some experienced campaigners, the likes of Shauny Maher. They’re missing out on the experience. They have a lot of young kids and they’re finding it very difficult; they’re making a lot of mistakes every week.
“We’ll get on with the last eight games, hopefully pick up as many points as we can, and see how high we can finish. We’re all desperate to do that because we don’t want the season just to peter out with nothing. We want to keep going and do as well as we can for ourselves and for the club,” announced Hawkins.
On the injury front, Ian Foster’s charges will be without the services of a number of players, including; Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Stephen Maher (fractured metatarsal), Paul Murphy (back) and Chris Kerr (hamstring). Greg Bolger won’t make the trip out west as he is suspended. For Galway, they will be looking for their second win of the season without Johnny Keane (knee), Sean Kelly (knee) and Victor Collins (ankle) whilst they can welcome Laurence Gaughan back from suspension.
Galway United
Injured: Johnny Keane (knee), Sean Kelly (knee), Victor Collins (ankle).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Dundalk
Injured: Eoghan Osborne (fractured tibia), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Stephen Maher (fractured metatarsal), Paul Murphy (back) and Chris Kerr (hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Greg Bolger.
Referee: Paul Tuite.
Paddy Power Odds: Galway United 10/1, Draw 11/2, Dundalk 2/11.
Extratime prediction: Dundalk to win 0-3.
About Aidan Farrelly
Aidan Farrelly joined the extratime team in mid 2010. A Kildare native, Aidan reports on St. Patrick's Athletic as well as other Dublin Clubs. Aidan can be contacted at: farrelly.aidan@gmail.com View Full Profile