Preview: Galway United vs Cobh Ramblers

• Alan Dooley
• Sun, May 25 2008




A basement battle if ever there was one. Galway United face Cobh Ramblers on Monday night with both sides desperately seeking a win to keep in touch with current "safe" club, Finn Harps. Separated only by goal difference, the clubs have identical records with a win and three draws apiece.

The clubs shared the spoils in their previous encounter in March, as Derek O'Brien's deflected shot cancelled out Kieran O'Reilly's opener. The clubs appear to be on different curves though, as Cobh have failed to garner a point thus far in the month of May, while Galway have picked up five of their six points this month under the stewardship of Jeff Kenna.

Finn Harps are currently out of the relegation spots due to their efforts against their rivals - all of their eleven point haul has come against the other four team near the bottom. Draws will only get you so far, so now Galway and Cobh must go all out to claim that vital three points. Hopefully a thriling contest will be in store.

Galway continue to show glimpses of class in every game, but seem unable to sustain it for a full 90 minute stint. Yet again they sparred on even terms with 2nd placed Bohemians for much of Friday night's contest, but slack defending from set-pieces cost them dear. A positive note was Mark Leech's first strike for the club, as he tries to form a partnership with the livewire Derek Glynn.

Leech and Vinny Faherty have both recently got off the mark for the Galwegians, and it is interesting that both goals were instinctive efforts where they reacted quickly to the break of a ball and shot before having time to let the brain interfere with issues like accuracy and power. United will require more of the same from both before the season is out.

Cobh went down to a harrowing 3-1 defeat at home to Harps on Friday night, and both sides fitness levels will be tested with two games in the space of 76 hours. A win for either side here will give them a huge boost in their bids to stay up.