Shamrock Rovers -v- Galway United

• Niall Farrell
• Thu, Jun 16 2011


Top plays bottom in the Airtricity Premier Division on Friday night as Shamrock Rovers host Galway United at Tallaght Stadium. (Kick off, 8pm)

Sean Connor's Galway United are mired at the bottom of the Premier Division and will not relish a trip to high-flying Rovers. The Tribesmen have lost their last eleven matches and haven't won in thirteen. A win for fellow relegation strugglers Drogheda United against Dundalk last week means that Galway are now three points adrift at the bottom.

Conversely, Shamrock Rovers have lost just one of their last ten matches. Monday saw the Hoops held to a draw by Derry City but Michael O'Neill and his side are justifiably confident ahead of the visit of Galway to Tallaght.

“It’s another home game for us, and one we’ll want to ensure we get three points from" said O'Neill. Rovers had an excellent first half against the Candystripes on Monday night, but were undone by an Eamon Zayed goal. "We played well for a long period of the game against Derry on Monday night," said O'Neill, "and we were disappointed not the get the three points; we felt that overall we deserved the win on the night. But we didn’t get the three points and that is something we will want to make up for against Galway.”

For Galway, hope might seem thin on the ground at the moment, but Sean Connor says that his side "just need a bit of luck". "It's difficult, we're low on confidence at the moment" admitted Connor. "We've just got to keep working. We did one or two new things in training. Training has gone well this week. We just need a bit of luck."

The Tribesmen are missing three players - Alan Murphy, Jonathan Keane and Sean Kelly - through injury while Stephen Walsh will also be absent due to suspension. Rovers will have a full squad to choose from.

Shamrock Rovers:
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

Galway United:
Injured: Sean Kelly (Knee), Jonathan Keane (Knee), Alan Murphy (Groin).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Stephen Walsh.

Referee: Padraig Sutton.
Paddy Power Odds: Shamrock Rovers 1/14; Draw 8/1; Galway United 25/1.
Extratime prediction: 3-0 to Rovers.