Galway United -v- UCD

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Mar 17 2011


UCD travel to Galway United on Friday night for an Airtricity Premier Division game in which both sides will be largely unrecognisable from last season. (Kick off 7.45pm)

The last time these teams met was in a relegation tie at the latter end of last season and there must be every likelihood that they will both find themselves at the wrong end of the table this year. For the record, the students won 4-1 on that occasion but both teams have since lost eight of their starting elevens.

Connor has experienced one of the most testing pre-season’s of his career with financial and administrative issues impacting heavily on his ability to construct a competitive squad. Martin Russell, while operating from a more sound financial base, has lost eleven of his best players from last year and has recruited largely from the Leinster Senior League.

Galway opened their campaign with a 3-0 home defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic and followed up with another defeat to Dundalk last weekend. However Connor was more pleased with his side’s performance at Oriel Park and will be keen to register a first win against a team likely to provide more direct opposition in the league table.

UCD began their season with a Setanta Cup clash against Lisburn Distillery which they lost 2-0 on aggregate. An opening league win away to Drogheda also provided their first goal of the campaign, scored by young striker Cillian Morrison, but last week they endured another goal-less evening as they went down 2-0 to Derry.

Sean Connor might be more confident on the goal-scoring front with the expected return to first team action of Alan Murphy after 16 months out through injury, though he is likely to be without experienced defender Shaun Kelly who is suffering from an illness. If either side find a player who can hit the net consistently it may make the difference between a season of constant toil and one in which other teams troubles provide them with some welcome buoyancy.

Galway United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Shaun Kelly.
Suspended: None.

UCD
Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: Unavailable.

Referee: Rob Rogers.
Paddy Power Odds: Galway - 11/8, Draw - 11/5, UCD - 15/8.
Extratime prediction: A 2-1 home win for Galway.