League Preview: Galway United -v- Drogheda United

• Brendan Graham
• Fri, Mar 22 2019




GALWAY UNITED

Galway United welcome Drogheda United to Eamonn Deacy Park this evening (kick-off 7.45pm) with both sides looking for a win to try and kick start their season.

Although only a few weeks into the season, both of these sides have had disappointing starts to the 2019 campaign especially when both realistically would be targeting promotion this year.

Galway haven’t made the most of home comforts so far yet this season, losing both of their league games at home.

A first three points at Eamonn Deacy Park would see the Tribesmen leapfrog their opponents this evening into seventh position.

It is two weeks since their last taste of action after last weekend’s match against Longford Town was rained off so they should be raring to go again in front of their home fans.

“Everybody looks at results. It’s important to win and get some points at home,” manager Alan Murphy told the club’s media team.

“I’m largely positive about our performances so far. We’ve acquitted ourselves well and performed for large parts.

“Now we’re looking to bring the performances and also get the results. We want to make Eamonn Deacy Park a difficult place for teams to visit, so they don’t enjoy coming to Galway.

“Our aim is create a bit of atmosphere, so that there’s a bit of an event about our home games, not just a game of football.

“We’re looking to create that atmosphere with identifiable players, who are largely Galway based, that can excite Galway fans and even those from further afield.

“Both teams will want a stepping stone to push up the league table on Friday night. We won’t look too much into Drogheda’s recent results.

“We’ve done hard work in our analysis of them and we’ll give Drogheda the respect that they’re due. We know it’s a really big game, even this early in the season.”

Conor Layng is a long-term absentee with a cruciate ligament injury, while Iarfhlaith Davoren, Kevin Horgan and Andrew Peters are also injured, while Donal Higgins is away with Ireland under-18s.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United, like Galway, have had a stuttering start to the season, picking up just four points from their opening four league games

Their only win of the season so far was on the opening night when they comprehensively beat Cobh Ramblers 4-0 at home.

They haven’t been able to push on so far since that promising result conceding seven goals in two league losses to Longford Town and Cabinteely with a draw against Limerick in between.

Cabinteely also got the better of them in the opening round of the EA Sports Cup two weeks ago giving them their second win at United Park in just two weeks.

Drogheda are yet to score on the road this season but a win here would put a distance of four points between the sides.

Referee: Ray Matthews

MATCH STATS

Drogheda currently sit a point ahead of Galway ahead of tonight’s fixture at Eamonn Deacy Park with the sides sitting in seventh and eighth respectively

Drogheda are yet to score away from home yet this season after two league games on the road.

BETTING

Galway United 2/1; Draw 11/5; Drogheda United 11/10

PREDICTION

Galway United 2-1 Drogheda United

Galway United

Injured:  Conor Layng (cruciate), Andrew Peters (ankle), Kevin Horgan (abdominal), Iarflaith Davoren (calf).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Unavailable: Donal Higgins (international duty).

Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.