Two struggling teams will lock horns in the League of Ireland Premier Division on Friday evening, with Galway United welcoming Cork City to Eamonn Deacy Park.
Galway United are currently eighth in the table, picking up 20 points from their 16 league matches this season, while Cork City are ninth, only collecting 12 points from their 16 fixtures during the current campaign.
Match preview
Galway United boast a record of five wins, five draws and six defeats from their 16 league matches this season, with a total of 20 points leaving them in eighth spot in the table, eight points ahead of ninth-placed Cork City.
John Caulfield‘s side will enter this match in disappointing form, having been beaten in each of their last four league matches, losing to St Patrick’s Athletic, Bohemians, Waterford and Sligo Rovers since a 2-1 success over Drogheda United on April 25.
United are only three points behind sixth-placed Shelbourne with a game in hand, but they have been beaten in four of their eight league fixtures in front of their own supporters this term.
Cork City, meanwhile, have just two points to show from their eight league fixtures on their travels, which is a record that will certainly hand the home side a boost ahead of Friday’s contest.
The last meeting between these two sides came in February, with the points being shared in a 2-2 draw, while Galway United have not beaten Friday’s opponents since a 2-1 victory in the second tier in September 2022.
Cork City have been victorious in four of the last six League of Ireland Premier Division matches between the two sides, including a 5-0 success away to Galway United back in October 2016.
There is no getting away from the fact that it has been a tough campaign to date for Gerard Nash‘s side, though, with 12 points from 16 matches leaving them in ninth spot in the table, eight points behind eighth-placed Galway United.
Cork City have only won twice in the league this season, while they have struggled from a defensive point of view, conceding 28, which is the second-worst record in the division behind Sligo Rovers.
The visitors will enter this match off the back of three straight defeats to Drogheda United, Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic, with their last victory proving to be a 2-1 success at home to Waterford on April 21.
Team News
Galway United have not reported any fresh concerns from their clash with Sligo Rovers last time out.
Head coach Caulfield is likely to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack, and there will be another spot in the final third of the field for Moses Dyer, who has come up with eight goals in 15 appearances this season.
Patrick Hickey has four goals, meanwhile, and there will be another start in the XI for the 26-year-old; Cian Byrne has also been a solid performer for Galway United this season and will be another to feature from the first whistle.
As for Cork City, Darragh Crowley and Rio Shipston will be back in the squad after serving suspensions last time out.
However, Ruairi Keating remains unavailable for selection due to a knee injury, while Conor Drinan and Malik Dijksteel are also unlikely to be passed fit in time to feature at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Keating’s absence is a big one considering that he has scored four times in eight appearances this term, but Kitt Nelson is another forward in good form, finding the back of the net four times during the current season.
Galway United possible starting lineup:
Clarke; Esua, Slevin, Brouder, Cunningham; McCarthy, Byrne, Hurley, Burns; Hickey, Dyer
Cork City possible starting lineup:
Troost; Nevin, Anderson, Lyons, Kiernan; Fitzpatrick, Crowley, McLaughlin; O’Sullivan, Daniels, Nelson
We say: Galway United 1-1 Cork City
It is very difficult to back either side with any real confidence at the moment considering their performance levels; two of the last three top-flight meetings between the two sides have finished all square, including back in February, and we are predicting another draw here.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
