Derry City -v- Galway United

• Jamie Mahon
• Sun, May 29 2011


Derry City will be confident of getting back on the winning trail on Monday night, after last Friday’s defeat at Oriel Park, when they host a Galway United side who have lost their last nine Premier league games in a row. (k.o 7.45pm)

In what has surely been the most competitive league in many years, just three points separate the top seven teams in the league, and Derry will feel they have a great chance of three points against the leagues’ basement club to keep the pressure on at the business end of the table.

Stephen Kenny, however, is not a man prone to underestimating any team, and said “Galway have been unpredictable this season. They went and they beat Bohs at Dalymount, so they’re well capable of picking up results. When we met them earlier this year they gave us a right tough game in the first half. They had the lions’ share of possession but luckily we scored two great goals either side of half time and were able to go on and win the game by a convincing margin. That being said, I believe we can bounce back from the defeat on Thursday and we’ll be looking to come away with all three points on Monday night."

Derry welcome back club captain Kevin Deery after three weeks on the sidelines with a calf problem, however there are doubts over the fitness of left back Daniel Lafferty (knee) and centre half Shane McEleney (groin).

Galway are down to the bare bones with Gary Curran, Steve Feeney, Shaun Maher and Alan Murphy all still out injured and doubts over the fitness of Gary Kelly, Enda Curran and Joseph Yoffe. As well as that Rory Gartland misses the game through suspension, so Sean Connor certainly does not have his sorrows to seek.

Connor admitted to being “personally very low” after last week's defeat at home to fellow strugglers Drogheda United and a trip to the Brandywell seems like a tall ask for the genial Belfast man and his injury ravaged side.

Derry City
Injured – None
Doubtful – Daniel Lafferty, Shane McEleney
Suspended – None

Galway United
Injured – Gary Curran, Steve Feeney, Shaun Maher, Alan Murphy.
Doubtful – Gary Kelly, Enda Curran, Joseph Yoffe.
Suspended – Rory Gartland.

Referee - Derek Tomney

Paddy Power odds - Derry City 1/6 – Draw 11/2 – Galway United 14/1.

Extratime prediction – Derry City 3 –v- Galway United 0