- Paul Corcoran
- Thu, Jul 01 2021
UCD
The Students will be looking to create some distance between themselves and Galway United when they host the Tribesmen in the First Division on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).
Andy Myler’s men are in second place in the second tier although Treaty United and Galway United are equal on points with the Dublin side.
UCD will be hoping to move beyond Galway outright on Friday night and they managed to return to winning ways last Friday in the South Dublin Derby when they faced off against Cabinteely.
The Students had lost two games in a row coming into that game but goals from Colm Whelan and Liam Kerrigan were enough to see the side past Pat Devlin’s men despite a late goal by Cabo.
The last time the sides met they drew 2-2, during a period of time where the Tribesmen were struggling for form, this could be a tough battle with Galway having won their last three games in a row in the First Division.
GALWAY UNITED
The Tribesmen have been in impeccable form since the mid-season break with three wins in a row coming into this Friday’s fixture.
Wins over Athlone Town and Cabinteely at home and then a hard fought victory over Treaty United last weekend have brough John Caulfield’s side near the top of the table and they could go into second place outright with a win over UCD.
Padraic Cunningham netted for the Tribesmen last week in Markets Field to give the side their third victory in a row, it’s also very promising that they’ve kept two cleans sheets in a row as they prepare to face one of the tougher front lines in the First Division.
“UCD are another top team so we will have to be at our best to beat them,” Caulfield told the club’s media team.
“We have won three games in a row now as well as keeping two clean sheets. The team has gelled a lot better in the last couple of games and we have looked much more solid which is good.
“You need momentum. Winning games can become a habit, the same as losing games. The next game is the most important game, it is the game that matters.
“There is still a long way to go, this league can be ruthless so you have to take it game by game. All we can do is look after ourselves. When we go to UCD we will need to be on our best form to have any chance of getting a result.”
Just two players are absent from John Caulfield’s squad for the visit to Dublin with Francely Lomboto and Ronan Manning still absent with long term injuries.
Referee: David Keeler
MATCH STATS
The Tribesmen are unbeaten in three games against the Students.
With UCD’s brief stint in the Premier Division during 2019 meaning the sides were kept apart, the Dublin side last beat Galway in July 2018
UCD’s Colm Whelan is the top goal scorer so far this season with ten First Division goals to his name.
BETTING
UCD 7/5; Draw 23/10; Galway United 13/8.
PREDICTION
UCD 1–1 Galway United
UCD
Injured: N/A.
Doubtful: N/A.
Suspended: None.
Galway United
Injured: Francely Lomboto, Ronan Manning.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
