League Preview: Galway United -v- Cork City

• Paul Corcoran
• Thu, Aug 05 2021




GALWAY UNITED

John Caulfield hosts his former club in the First Division on Friday night when Cork City make the trip to Eamonn Deacy Park to face Galway United (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Tribesmen will be looking to make it eight games unbeaten on Friday night when they face the ninth place Rebels.

United will be cheered on by 800 fans, with a crowd of this magnitude being permitted to attend a fixture in Deacy Park for the first time this season.

Last weekend, Galway came from behind to beat Wexford 3-1 at Ferrycarrig park with second half goals from Padraic Cunningham, Killian Brouder and Shane Doherty sealing their sixth win out of their last seven games.

With the Tribesmen still nine points off top of the table Shelbourne in the race for promotion John Caulfield will be hoping this run can continue for his side.

“I know my football and I know how tough every game is in this division,” Caulfield told the club’s media team.

“It is very tight between all of the clubs in this league. I don’t think a team is guaranteed to get a result here or there as it is a very even playing field. The playoff places will go right down to the wire,” Caulfield said, speaking to the club’s media team.

“We have to drive on; the most important game for us is Cork on Friday, who are a fantastic team and a fantastic club. If we don’t play to our best, we won’t get the result. We need to be at it from the start against them.”

Ronan Manning and Francely Lomboto are still absent with long term injuries for Galway, Carlton Ubaezuonu will also miss out on the Cork game with the midfielder still recovering from an injury.

CORK CITY

The Rebels are currently in ninth place in the First Division and are eleven points off the playoff spots as we enter the final ten games of the season.

A lack of wins in recent weeks is compounding the club’s struggle to clinch a chance at promotion this season and they will be up against it once again on Friday when they travel to meet an in form Galway United.

They may be somewhat confident of getting something from the game, having drawn with Galway earlier this season but a point will do little to move them up the table and closer to the desired fifth place, with manager Colin Healy expecting a tough game.

“They’re going well. They started slowly but they’ve put a good few games together and they’re going well now. They had a good result against Wexford last weekend, they’re a very strong side,” the manager told the club’s website.

“The boys have trained well this week, and they know they’re going into a very tough game on Friday.

“Every Friday is difficult at the moment, but the boys will be ready. Hopefully we can go up there, put on a good performance and get the three points.

“We played well, in the first game against them. Jack Baxter got a great goal, but we defended poorly for their goal right at the very end. John’s teams work right until the very end, so we’ve got to be careful of that again.”

The Rebels are still without Gearóid Morrissey and Steven Beattie, Jonas Hakkinen will is out injured after a collision during last weekend’s game against UCD.

Referee: Michael Connolly

MATCH STATS

The Tribesmen are unbeaten in seven First Division games coming into Friday’s fixture.

Cork City are looking for their first win in six games when they visit Eamonn Deacy Park this weekend.

The Rebels haven’t beaten Galway United since July 2017 when a 2-1 victory for City kept them at the top of the table as they went on to win the Premier Division.

This will be Cork City’s first visit to Galway since they were defeated by United in the FAI Cup in 2019.

BETTING

Galway United 10/11; Draw 23/10; Cork City 5/2.

PREDICTION

Galway United 1–0 Cork City

Galway United

Injured: Ronan Manning, Francely Lomboto, Carlton Ubaezuonu.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cork City

Injured: Gearóid Morrissey, Steven Beattie, Jonas Hakkinen.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.