Bohemians -v- Galway United

• Martin Nicholas
• Tue, Jun 02 2009


Bohemians take on Galway United at Dalymount Park this evening looking for a third successive win to put their May blip well and truly behind them. The champions were beaten in successive weeks by Derry City and arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers, before needing an injury time winner to beat bottom side Drogheda United before last week's crucial win in Cork.

The Premier Division table may have assumed a more familiar look with Pat Fenlon's team regaining the top spot on goal difference thanks to Jason Byrne's 56th minute header at Turner's Cross but the former Shelbourne manager says he won't be expecting an easy run out against a Galway side who have conceded five without reply in their last two league outings: “Galway are a very decent side. They try and play the game the right way. They’ll come out and play like they normally do, we’re expecting another tough game.”

Two Byrne strikes were enough to win the game for Bohemians when the sides met at Terryland Park earlier in the season and while he will be looking to maintain the impressive run of form that has taken him to the top of the goalscoring charts this year, the Gypsies will be without the injured Owen Heary and Mark Rossiter. Jason McGuinness serves the second of his five game suspension and former Ireland international Glen Crowe faces a late fitness test.

Galway have won only twice away from home this season and the most recent of those came nearly two months ago at United Park. Cork City, Dundalk and Sligo Rovers have all sent the Tribesmen packing since without a point and it's difficult to see Bohemians failing to join the list.

Niall Walsh and Paul Sinnott had both recovered well enough from recent injuries to be named among the substitutes in Friday's 3-0 defeat to Derry, but Shane Fitzgerald (ankle), Alan Murphy (ankle), and Sean Kelly (knee) are still a while from making their comeback for Ian Foster's side. John Russell and Garry Breen return from suspension.

With Derry, Cork, Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers setting the pace as expected, Galway will strengthen their position at the top of the mini-league developing below them should they win in Phibsborough. Sligo Rovers and St. Patrick's Athletic both lie a point behind them, with Dundalk a further three behind. The Bit O'Red have a tricky tie at the Carlisle Grounds against Bray Wanderers, while St. Pats would do well to take anything from the Brandywell but it's hard to see Galway being able to take advantage of that at the home of the reigning double champions.

Extratime.ie prediction:Bohemians 3- 0 Galway United