Shamrock Rovers -v- Galway United
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It will be a night of celebration at the Tallaght Stadium on Friday, when champions Shamrock Rovers will take on bottom of the table Galway United (kick off 7.45 p.m).
Rovers will be presented with the league trophy following the game, after securing their 17th league title with a dramatic late victory at UCD on Tuesday night.
Following his red card at Belfield on Tuesday, Craig Sives will miss the game through suspension for Rovers. Apart from the suspended Sives, the Hoops will have a full squad to choose from for the visit of Galway.
Hoops boss Michael O'Neill told the Shamrock Rovers website that he is looking forward to Friday night's occasion. “It will be a great night for everyone at the club. While we won the league on Tuesday out in UCD, Friday will see us actually presented with the trophy. It is great for the fans that the presentation will happen in Tallaght, where everyone can be there to witness it. However there is also still a game to be played. We will want to end the season on a high, and of course to win the league by as many points as possible. Galway have nothing to lose on the night and that will make them dangerous” revealed O'Neill.
Galway United manager John Brennan will have Laurence Gaughan and Jin Gu Kim available after injury. However, United will be without long-term injured duo Johnny Keane (knee) and Victor Collins (Achilles tendon). Eric Holland (hamstring) and John Egan (knee) will undergo fitness tests ahead of the game. Ronan Caldwell (twisted ankle) is also a doubt, as is club captain Alan Murphy, who has a foot injury.
Galway manager John Brennan is hoping for a decent performance from his side ahead of the promotion/relegation play-offs. "We're going to play the League Champions. We hope to get a performance that would suit us for the play-off, and that's what we're all geared towards at the minute" Brennan told the Galway United website.
The last time that the two sides met in the league at Terryland Park on August 21st, Rovers won a close encounter 3-2.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Craig Sives.
Galway United
Injured: Johnny Keane (knee) and Victor Collins (achilles tendon) .
Doubtful: Eric Holland, John Egan, Ronan Caldwell and Alan Murphy.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Anthony Buttimer.
Paddy Power Odds: Shamrock Rovers 1/25, Draw 10/1, Galway United 40/1.
Extratime.ie prediction: Shamrock Rovers 4-1 Galway United.
