Credit:
Galway United -v- UCD
- Diarmuid Kelly
- Thu, Jun 30 2011
Bottom placed Galway United welcome third from bottom UCD to Terryland Park on Friday night when they meet in the Airtricity Premier Division. (Kick off, 7.45pm)
United, who have seen testing financial times, hit a new nadir last week when they confirmed that their players would all be up for sale in the upcoming transfer window which opens on Friday morning.
The Tribesman have conceded 21 goals in their previous five league encounters and have lost their last 14 league encounters, their last point coming in a 1-1 draw with Drogheda United back in April. Sean Connor, has been busy keeping the ship afloat in turbulent waters as injuries and financial difficulty have tested his management capabilities like never before.
The injury issues, like the financial ones, don't seem like abating any time soon as Sean Kelly, Johnny Keane, Joseph Yoffe and and Shane Keogh are all still out. Sean Maher too is a possible exclusion with an achilles problem.
With United bottom of the league, and ten points adrift of their counterparts Connor is in determined form before kick off, "Two teams on a bad run of form. It's a massive game for us, 13 point gap if we lose, we have got to win. It's not been easy with what's going on at the moment but we've got to be professional and try and get the win."
UCD go into Fridays fixture in the unusual position of favourites and have been in relatively impressive form. Despite losing 3-0 to Derry City in the EA Sports Cup on Monday the Students earned a deserved 2-2 draw against the Northerners on Friday night in the league. This coupled with a notable first half performance against form side Sligo Rovers in the Showgrounds testifies to the mantra of good passing football professed by Matin Russell bearing dividends.
Sean Harding is unavailable through suspension and is joined on the sidelines by Robbie Creevy who is incapacitated with a leg injury for the Students. Russell is in no form to deviate from the footballing ethos of his UCD side despite the possible relegation implications of a loss to Galway United. The Student’s manager had this to say regarding Fridays affair, "We realise that Galway will be keen to rally together a spirited response to recent difficulties. However our focus remains constant, we will continue to encourage our UCD side to produce good football while developing in the premier league."
Galway United:
Injured: Joseph Yoffe (ankle), Sean Kelly (knee), Johnny Keane (knee), Shane Keogh (toe).
Doubtful: Sean Maher (achilles).
Suspended: None.
UCD:
Injured: Robbie Creevy.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Sean Harding.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
Paddy Power Odds: Galway 5/1; Draw 11/4; UCD 8/15.
Extratime prediction: UCD to further confound the Tribesmen’s difficulties with a 2-0 win.
About Diarmuid Kelly
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