SD Galway -v- Waterford United

SD GALWAY

Last week’s defeat away to Wexford Youths has put a halt to the recent good run of results for Galway that saw them pick up maximum points in two home games against Mervue United and Athlone Town.

Those results had seen them move a point behind Mervue in the table and putting real pressure on their city rivals in their fierce battle at the foot of the first division table.

The defeat against Wexford was all the more costly for Devon as they will miss Luke McConnell and Eugene Greaney who were both red carded in the second half.

Manager Tony Mannion was confident that despite the loss of the suspended players his team could return to winning ways against Waterford.

“Eugene and Luke will be a loss this week. Eugene particularly has played virtually everywhere for us this season and his passion will be a loss. We have trained well all week and we will hope to give Waterford a hard time. The lads have done well recently and we look on last week’s loss in Wexford as an aberration, where we were short several regulars and got few if any of the breaks”

The team will boosted by the return of Cian McFadden and Brian Geraghty but must do without defenders Colm Horgan, who is on international duty with the Ireland U/19’s, and Paddy Quinlan who will miss out through work commitments.

WATERFORD UNITED

Waterford fans will wonder which team will turn up in Galway on Friday night. The one who surrendered so tamely to a four goal defeat at home to Mervue United in Monday’s FAI Ford Cup, or the team who plundered all three points away to Limerick in last week’s clash in Jackman Park.

The cup debacle could be considered a freak result by a team that were concentrating on a promotion push if it were not for the fact they had suffered a disappointing derby defeat to Wexford and drew with an out of form Athlone in their last two league fixtures before the Limerick game.

First team coach Alan Barry was at a loss to explain his side’s cup exit when speaking to Extratime.ie, describing the performance as “shocking” and “dreadful”.

“It was a complete turnaround from Friday night’s game where we had our heads high, great performance, but it just wasn’t there tonight, absolutely shocking performance. I don’t know where it came from. It didn’t seem to be in the team but obviously it was. We were on a high from Friday’s game but for whatever reason it just wasn’t there tonight.”

The Blues continue without long-term injury absentees Gary Dunphy and Daragh Walshe, full back Paul Carey serves an automatic one match ban after being sent from the dugout against Mervue, and striker Sean Maguire continues away on U19 International duty. Midfielder Paul Phelan remains a slight doubt with a quad injury, as does striker Peter Keegan who is rated at only 50:50 for the game.

Referee: D McKeon

MATCH STATS

This season the three meetings between the sides have ended in an ascending 1-0, 2-0 and 3-0, all in Waterford’s favour.

Waterford have won all but one of the nine meetings between the two sides to date , the only game not to end in a Blues victory came with a 1-1 draw in September 2010.

Devon have conceded 48 goals this season, the most of any team in the League of Ireland, with 23 coming at home.

BETTING

SD Galway 17/2; Draw 7/2; Waterford United 3/10.

PREDICTION

SD Galway 0-1 Waterford United

SD Galway Injury News: None. Players Unavailable: Colm Horgan, Paddy Quinlan

SD Galway Suspension News: Eugene Greaney, Luke McConnell

Waterford United Injury News: Daragh Walshe, Gary Dunphy, Peter Dunphy (doubtful), Paul Phelan (doubtful).

Waterford United Suspension News: Paul Carey