Galway United -v- Dundalk

• Alan Dooley
• Fri, Jul 17 2009


Sean Connor's Dundalk side travel west to Galway tonight (kick off:7.45 pm) keen to cement their fifth place position and move decisively clear of the relegation battle forming below them. Ian Foster will have to make do without some key players, but will still be hopeful of recording back-to-back league wins for only the second time this season.

Recent form
Galway United halted an alarming run of form when winning at Richmond Park for the second time this season last weekend. A Ryan Guy header looked to have the Tribesmen in trouble, but a two-goal blast in 90 seconds courtesy of a contentious Jay O'Shea penalty and a Sean Kelly screamer ensured a vital win for Galway who maintained a three point gap above a resurgent Drogheda Utd side.
Dundalk faced their own nemesis last week, Bohemians, succumbing for the third time thanks to goals from Glen Crowe and Killian Brennan. Michael Daly's red card heightened the trauma for the Lilywhites, as the influential midfielder now misses tonight's encounter.

Squad additions
Sean Connor has been a busy man in the transfer window, fidgeting with a squad which had produced three noteworthy wins before last week's reverse. Striker Alex Williams produced the goods to overcome Derry City, and he has been joined in the squad by Kevin McKinlay, Peter Cherrie, Michael McGowan, and Paul McAreavey. Apart from these new signings, the appearance, finally, of Mickey Collins in the Dundalk midfield has also been a telling addition. To facilitate these moves, Declan "Fabio" O'Brien has moved south to Inchicore while Michael Synnott has also gone on loan to Shelbourne.
Galway United's squad is more likely to see players departing to ease the financial strain, with Jay O'Shea and Garry Breen the subject of cross-channel overtures. But Foster does welcome Shane Fitzgerald back to the fold, in effect a new signing as the former UCD winger has only seen 75 minutes of league action so far for United, with glimpses of promise being cut short by a nasty ankle injury sustained against Sligo Rovers. Alan Murphy also returns after a long spell on the sidelines.

Earlier jousts
Two narrow home wins have occurred when the sides previously met in March and May. Galway got their home campaign off to a winning start thanks to Garry Breen's first goal for the club, as United capitalised on Simon Kelly's second half dismissal to claim the spoils.
Dundalk got their revenge in Oriel Park when Declan O'Brien's goal decided an error-strewn encounter. O'Brien got himself sent off late on but the home side held on comfortably in what proved to be George O'Callaghan's last appearance for the border club.

Team News
The home side must plan without the suspended trio of Jay O'Shea, Shane Guthrie, and Michael McGrath. O'Shea has only missed a single game to date, due to U21 duty, and will be sorely missed especially as Derek O'Brien continues to remain a doubt with a hamstring injury. Guthrie's absence is an even bigger worry as he has been an ever-present rock at the heart of the defence to date, with Paul Sinnott expected to deputise. Shane Fitzgerald as mentioned makes a welcome return, while the game could well be Sean Kelly's last for the club.
Dundalk should be well versed in the details of International Clearance Certificates by this stage and are hopeful that all of their new signings will be available for selection. Darren Mansaram is likely to return to the side after a recent knee injury.

extratime.ie Prediction: Away win.