Galway United -v- Sporting Fingal

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Aug 05 2010


Galway United will hope to build on their crucial win against UCD last weekend when they face Sporting Fingal at Terryland Park on Friday night. (Kick-off, 7.45pm)

The Tribesmen have spent most of the season hovering above Bray and Drogheda in eighth place in the Airtricity Premier Division table and an end of season relegation play-off has long been considered their destiny. But last week’s win over UCD leaves them only three points shy of the students and the safety of seventh place.

The home fans will have been pleased to see Karl Sheppard hit the net against UCD, his first league goal since April, and the contribution of recent débutante Steven Walsh has been a cause for optimism. “He's been a revelation because it's the first time we've put him in”, said Galway boss Sean Connor on the club’s website. “We know what he's like. We've had him since he played against Hull City for ten minutes, and he's worked hard for the reserves. He's full of energy, bravery. He's a great belief in himself, and he basically does what you tell him, and that's refreshing for a manager. His job now is force himself into the team in his best position”.

However, optimism in Terryland should be tempered by the fact that the win at Belfield was Galway’s first in six league games.

Sporting’s concern is more to do with keeping up with the leaders than avoiding relegation but with four draws from their last six league outings they are in danger of slipping off the pace.

The Dublin side have only failed to score in four of their 23 league games to date but manager Liam Buckley is looking to his back four to play their part too. “I was generally pleased with our displays in the draws against St. Patrick’s Athletic and Shamrock Rovers in our last two outings but am conscious of our need to cut out conceding sloppy goals. We’ll be approaching this match with the objective it winning it and keeping in contention near the leading pack in the table.”



Galway United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Stephen O’Donnell.
Suspended: None.

Sporting Fingal
Injured: Keith Quinn (foot), Colin Hawkins (ribs).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

Referee: Declan Hanney

Extratime prediction:Home win for Galway, 2-1.