Galway United -v- Bohemians

Last year Galway United were a thorn in the flesh of Pat Fenlon’s side, winning three of their four league meetings and effectively ending the Gypsy’s pursuit of the league title with a shock 3-2 win on the second last weekend of the season.

The Tribesmen appeared to be on a similar course this season when they won 1-0 at Dalymount Park back in March thanks to a Joseph Joffe goal. But as Galway’s form tumbled Bohs regained some sense of perspective by winning the next two league encounters, both by 2-0 score-lines, the most recent coming in July when Christy Fagan and Killian Brennan scored the crucial goals.

Galway’s league form needs little introduction with a 2-2 draw at home against Dundalk two weeks ago ending a run of 22 straight defeats. That game signalled the end of Sean Connor’s time at the helm and with club legend John ‘Jumbo’ Brennan now in charge there is much curiosity to see if he can bring new confidence to the Galway squad.

Bohemians, meanwhile, are putting a solid run of form together. Tuesday night saw them overcome Dundalk to secure a place in the FAI Cup semi-finals and they have already won their way through to the Leinster Senior Cup final where they will meet Dublin rivals St Patrick’s Athletic.

In the league Bohs are unbeaten in their last four outings and have won all of their last three games. In fact, Pat Fenlon’s charges have lost just two of their last eleven league matches, going down 1-0 to the top two sides Derry City and Shamrock Rovers.

Fenlon will have the luxury of traveling to Galway with a fully fir squad but John Brennan will be without long term injury victims Johnny Keane and Victor Collins. He will also be without Eric Holland who has recently joined the list of absentees and Jin Gu Kim is a serious doubt for the game.

It’s difficult to see beyond a win for Bohemians here but there is an unpredictably about any side that have appointed a new manager which will both encourage the home support and add a frisson to the hopes of the visitors.

Galway United

Injured: Johnny Keane, Victor Collins, Eric Holland.

Doubtful: Jin Gu Kim.

Suspended: None.

Bohemians

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Referee: Rob Rogers.

Paddy Power Odds: Galway 12/1; Draw 11/2; Bohemians 1/6.

Extratime prediction: Bohemians solidity to see them home - 2-0.