Credit:
Shamrock Rovers -v- Galway United
- Simon O'Gorman
- Thu, Sep 23 2010
Galway United are unlikely to be relishing Friday night’s trip to Tallaght where they will face the Shamrock Rovers side that eliminated them from the FAI Cup so emphatically last weekend. (Kick- off 8pm)
The 6-0 hammering that Rovers handed out last Friday will surely have the Tribesmen gagging for revenge, a point that Hoop’s boss Michael O’Neill is well aware of. “I was delighted with how things went in last week’s game”, said O’Neill. “It was a great reaction from the lads. But because of that, Galway will be hurting coming back here, and they will be out to do their utmost to cause an upset. They will want to make it difficult for us. No two games are the same, and while the players did very well last week, we have to take this match on its own merits.”
Of course Galway will be without goalkeeper and captain Barry Ryan who was sent off in last week’s game, so Daire Geraghty is likely to start between the sticks. Sean Connor will also be without midfielder Stephen O’Donnell who was booked in the same game and is also suspended.
Galway have caused some shocks this season, notably beating the Hoop’s title rivals Bohemians twice at Dalymount Park, but it would take a dramatic turn around in performance to upset the current league leaders.
Michael O’Neill will be without the suspended Billy Dennehy, one of this season’s revelations at Tallaght, and Dan Murray will also be missing due to injury. On the upside Rovers will have striker Dessie Baker to call on, an addition that O’Neill is grateful for.
“It’s good to have Dessie back, as we’ve not had much of him this year because of injury. Dessie can be a very important player for us between now and the end of the season. You could see that when he came on last week; his quality was obvious. It’s good to have him back for the run-in.”
It’s a run in that Galway will be looking to make as difficult for Rovers as they possibly can. They need the points themselves if they are to escape a relegation play-off but given it would be a brave man who would back them escaping on Friday night with anything more than a dignified defeat.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Dan Murray, Sean O’Connor, Pat Sullivan.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Paddy Kavanagh, Billy Dennehy.
Galway United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Stephen O’Donnell, Barry Ryan.
Referee: T Connolly.
Extratime prediction: A home win for Shamrock Rovers - 2-0.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …