Galway United -v- Dundalk

• Alan Dooley
• Sun, Apr 18 2010


Following on from their thrilling win over the champions on Friday night, Galway United must quickly come back down off cloud nine as they entertain Dundalk in in the first half of a County Louth double-header for the Tribesmen at Terryland Park on Monday night. (kick-off:7.45pm)

The two sides could not have had more contrasting fortunes on Friday as Dundalk lost their unbeaten record, a chance to move clear at the top of the table, and their position on the summit to their conquerors Sporting Fingal. For United, the Celtic Tiger was still in its infancy when they last prevailed at Dalymount Park, but the spirit shown by a squad decimated by injuries was truly admirable and they will now head into this fixture full of confidence.

Karl Sheppard was the hero with his all-action display and cool finishing, but the work-rate that Sean Connor has instilled in his side was noticeable from the off as they refused to let Bohemians dictate the tempo of the game. Given the long injury list, whether they can reproduce this level of effort following such a short period of rest remains to be seen and the loss of the suspended Stephen O'Donnell is a blow.

Ian Foster will want to get Dundalk back to winning ways as quickly as possible and returns to his old stomping ground well aware of the challenge that lies ahead of his troops.

"I’m delighted that [the game] has been rescheduled so quickly," Foster admitted to Dundalk's official website. "Obviously, I’d like to hope that we go into the Galway game without any injuries from Friday night, and if we do then that will stand us in good stead going over there. It’s a difficult place to go and we’ll have to be on top of our game to get anything out of it."

Despite the upturn in the home side's form in recent weeks, the bookies still have Dundalk as slight favourites for this fixture, only shortening Galway's odds minutely from the originally rained-off fixture.

Paddypower.com Odds: Galway United 9/5, Draw 21/10, Dundalk 13/10

Galway United
Suspended: Stephen O'Donnell
Injured: Alan Murphy, Gary Curran.
Doubtful: Jason Molloy, Bobby Ryan, Thomas Heary, and Jamie McKenzie

Dundalk
Suspended: none
Injured: Alan Cawley (cheekbone).
Doubtful: Tiarnan Mulvenna

Extratime Prediction: 1-1 draw.