Credit:
Dundalk -v- Galway United
- Alan Smith
- Thu, May 07 2009
Ninth place Dundalk entertain Galway United at Oriel Park tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm), with the home team in serious need of a win after last weeks hammering at the hands of the champions. The Lilywhites were battered 5-0 by Bohs’ at Dalymount Park, while Sean Connor was dealt a further blow by losing Harpal Singh to a red card. Galway, meanwhile, travel eastwards after two confidence boosting victories at home on the Bank Holiday weekend. Ian Foster’s outfit defeated St Pats on Jeff Kenna’s return to Terryland Park, before knocking out Derry City in the EA Sports Cup on Monday evening.
Oriel Hoodoo
When the two sides met earlier on in the season, it was Galway who took the points with a 1-0 victory in Terryland Park. Gary Breen scored with seven minutes remaining as the Lilywhites ended with ten men after Simon Kelly was shown red in the 70th minute. The last time the Tribesmen played at the Co. Louth venue was a First Division encounter back in August 2006, where Phil Hughes scored the winner for the home side. It has been seven years since the two met in the Premier Division at Oriel Park and on that day Garry Haylock cancelled out Colin Fortune’s second-half opener late on to share the spoils. The last time Galway returned to the west with the points was back in April 2004 but surely this is their best chance for some time.
Dundalk Depleted
The Lilywhites have been on a horrid run of form and their last win at home was against bottom of the table Drogheda United. Despite beating Derry 1-0 at the Brandywell, Sean Connor’s team are in 9th position and will need to start getting points on the board if they’re to get out of the relegation battle. The Dundalk boss believes the next few weeks will give a much better indication of the Lilywhites position and he has set a target from the next six games. “Our next six games are very important as they are against the teams that are in a separate league with us,” Connor said. “The top three are the top three and we’ve played all of them over the last three weeks. We need to start picking up points against the teams around us and I’d be looking at a target of 14 points for these games.”
Harpal Singh is ruled out tomorrow night after his sending off, while Chris Turner serves a one game ban for an accumulation of yellow cards. Dave Rogers is out with a hamstring injury, while the trio of Liam Burns, Thomas Heary and Simon Kelly all face late fitness tests.
Galway’s Goal
Galway will be looking for their third win in eight days after their two wins last weekend. The Tribesmen weren’t on the best run of form before last weekend, winning just one of seven. However, they’ll go to Oriel in a confident mood. Currently in 5th place they could end up in a European spot come 10pm tomorrow night. Ian Foster must plan without the services of Sean Kelly though, who has been impressive playing in front of the back four. Alan Murphy, Paul Sinnott and Niall Walsh are also out through injury, while Shane Fitzgerald will undergo a late fitness test on Friday.
Extratime.ie Prediction: 1-1
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90.