Galway United vs Bray Wanderers

• Finbarr O'Sullivan
• Thu, Sep 11 2008




Galway United will get a welcome break from their relegation struggle when they host Bray Wanderers in the FAI Cup Quarter Final at Terryland Park on Friday night.

Galway are without four first-team players. Iarfhlaith Davoren and Alan Murphy are both cup-tied following cup appearances earlier in the season for Longford Town and Shamrock Rovers respectively. Former Bray winger Jay O’Shea is suspended while striker Derek Glynn will miss out due to a chest infection. It’s not all bad news for Galway as they welcome back Alan Keane following his recent knee injury.

Manager Jeff Kenna said before the game: “It is not every day you reach a cup quarter-final and this is a great opportunity for the club. The players are under no illusions about what’s required of them, particularly after our recent defeat to Cobh Ramblers.”

Bray go into this tie missing only two players. Mark Duggan has reached four penalty points and will have to sit out this one while Ronan Ivory remains out with a long-term pelvic injury. Kevin Doherty is set to return for the Seagulls after three games out. The central defender had been sidelined with a thigh injury. He played half an hour in the friendly with Glenavon last Saturday and has trained all week.

Speaking ahead of the game, Bray boss Eddie Gormley said: “We are looking forward to the game. It’s a great opportunity to get to a cup semi-final. The lads are upbeat and looking sharp so I hope they can bring that into the game.”

Kick off is at 7.45pm. The referee will be Alan Kelly. The match will also be televised on TG4.

Extratime.ie prediction: These sides have played three times so far this season. In the two league games, Bray won 3-2 in Terryland Park while Galway won 1-0 in the Carlisle Grounds. However, in the League Cup Quarter Final, Galway emerged the victors, comfortably winning 3-0 at home. Head-to-head, Galway have the upper-hand but Bray have better league form. 2-2 seems a likely result.