Bohemians -v- Galway United

• Sam Griffin
• Thu, Mar 24 2011


Bohemians will look to continue their unbeaten run to the start of the 2011 season as they host struggling Galway United in Dalymount Park on Friday night. (Kick off, 7.45).

Both sides endured traumatic off-seasons and this is a fixture many people did not expect to see, and certainly not in the Premier Division, after both sides endured off the field pre-season problems. Bohs sit second in the table having taken seven points from their opening three games but will be wary the Maroon Army will be desperate to claim their first win of the season.

The home side were last in action on Monday night when they faced Scottish Premier Division side Hibernian. Although the Phibsborough club lost the game, Pat Fenlon chose to concentrate on the positives in his post-match assessment. He said: “The experience of playing at that level and against that type of opposition has helped the younger players. We got a really good work-out. We didn’t have the ball for a lot of the game and had to work very hard."

However, it wasn’t all good news for Bohs as striker Anto Flood was forced off with a calf injury early on in the first half. Both Flood, and strike partner Christy Fagan (hamstring) are in a race to be fit for Friday night’s game, with Fagan looking very unlikely to play. The two will now undergo late fitness test before kick-off along with midfielder Stephen Traynor.

However, two players who will definitely not be featuring for Bohs are long term casualties Chris O’ Connor and Glen Cronin. Ger O’ Brien also misses out through suspension.

Galway United go into this one sitting uncomfortably at the foot of the table. And while it could be argued they haven’t deserved to come away with three points from any of their games so far this season, there has been a marked improvement in Galway since their 3-0 loss to St Pat’s in their opening game of the season. The concession of an 87th minute winner away to Dundalk was followed up by a battling performance against UCD where they managed to come away with a share of the spoils.

Manager Sean Connor explained during the week how the club’s far from ideal preparations for the season ahead are taking their toll: “It's was a fractious pre-season and people don't understand that. Realistically we got the team together the Thursday before we played Pats”, he said.

“I can't underestimate the effect that has had on the start of the season. We will improve and get better as time goes on, but patience will be needed and we'll have to fight and scrap for as many points as we can."

However Galway’s hopes of finding that elusive first victory took another blow this week when it was revealed new signing Steve Feeney could miss the next six games through injury. The former Sligo Rovers player picked up a knock to his ankle in Galway’s league encounter with UCD last week. Sean Kelly also misses this game though suspension after he picked up a yellow card in that same match.

Despite Galway’s improvements, they are still very much a club in transition and one struggling to keep pace in these early stages of the season. Bohemians have managed to come through their off season troubles and, while injury concerns will weaken their attacking threat, that blend of youth and experience that has served them so well this season should see them come away with all three points here.

Bohemians
Injured: Chris O’ Connor and Glen Cronin
Doubtful: Anto Flood (calf) and Christy Fagan (hamstring)
Suspended: Ger O’ Brien

Galway United
Injured: Steve Feeney (ankle)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Sean Kelly

Referee: Alan Kelly
Paddy Power Odds: Bohemians 1/2 - Draw 11/4 – Galway 11/2
extratime.ie prediction: 2-0 to Bohemians