Derry City v Drogheda United: Match Preview

 

Derry City v Drogheda United: Match Preview

 

Derry City FC v Drogheda United FC, League of Ireland Premier Division Round 22, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 28^th June 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

With the summer break now over, and the season passed its midway point, Derry City find themselves second in the Premier Division, two points behind table-topping Shelbourne. After bidding farewell to English defender Cameron McJannet, City’s vice-captain and one of the longest serving players in the squad, the Candystripes announced the signing of former Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Jacob Davenport from Morecambe. The transfer window officially opens on July 1^st, and with several Derry players now into the last six months of their contact, it’s building up to be a busy one for Ruaidhrí Higgins and his staff. After also learning their fate in European qualification, Higgins will want his men to continue their five game unbeaten streak.

Last time out:

The Candystripes faced a tricky Thursday night away trip to Dalymount Park two weeks ago where they faced a Bohemians side who had won just one of their previous seven. Despite the heavy rain in the north earlier in the day, blue skies met the City faithful as they arrived in Phibsborough. The home side began the game the brighter side, despite a headed attempt from Michael Duffy coming back off the post after seven minutes. Just before the fifteen minute mark, pressure on the City goal resulted in a penalty when Sadou Diallo fouled Dayle Rooney in the box. Jordan Flores’ spot kick was saved by Brian Maher – the goalkeeper’s third penalty save of the year – but Danny Grant was on hand to sweep in the rebound and give the home side an early advantage.

City responded immediately, as Diallo turned from villain to hero when he diverted Will Patching’s cross into the Bohemian net. The scores now level again after seventeen minutes. The away side were the better team from then on in, striking the woodwork four times in all during the 90. Cameron McJannet, Dan Kelly and Danny Mullen were introduced in the second half in an attempt to snatch all three points, and that’s exactly what happened. City had a few chances go begging late in the second half and as the clock turned over to 94, Brian Maher’s punt forward was knocked on to Danny Mullen by Cameron McJannet. The Scottish striker arrowed it into the bottom corner to bag his second stoppage time winner of the season, and meant that Cameron McJannet assisted the winner on his last Derry City appearance to send the travelling support home happy.

 

Derry City:

It’s only been two weeks since we’ve last seen City play but it feels like it could have been a month. Prior to the Bohemians game, there were rumblings that Grimsby Town were interested in Cameron McJannet and, after seeing the 25 year old’s celebrations following Danny Mullen’s winner, it all but confirmed that that could have been his last involvement as a Derry City player. About a week later, his transfer to the League Two side was confirmed. Assisting a 94^th minute winner wasn’t a bad parting gift from the centre back, who made 142 appearances in red and white, with his highlight at the club coming as he scored twice and won Man of the Match in the 2022 FAI Cup Final. McJannet, who was signed from Stoke City in the summer of 2020, became a mainstay on the left-side of defence almost instantly as he grew into one of the league’s best defenders. Captaining the Candsytripes on over 50 occasions, the Englishman seemed to really take to the club and to the city as he showed unquestionable passion for the badge across his four years at the Brandywell. His boots will be big ones to fill, especially considering the value that a good left-sided centre back brings to a squad.

I’d personally have Galway United’s Rob Slevin high up on the McJannet replacement list if I was Ruaidhrí Higgins. The former Finn Harps and Cork City defender has been integral to Galway’s defence, keeping nine clean sheets in eighteen appearances. The Tribesemen have the best defensive record in the league, conceding just thirteen goals in twenty games. Turning 26 in August, City would be getting a defender approaching his prime, but will likely need to spend big to secure his signature. Galway aren’t short of a few Euro and will want to keep one of their standout performers. Reputable stats website Transfermarkt values Slevin at €75k, but with a contract expiring at the end of the season, Galway may accept a discounted fee as to not lose the Cork native on a free come November.

It’s hard to value League of Ireland players, as most inter-club deals within Ireland are free transfers and foreign clubs seem to sign players from the Premier and First Divisions at significantly lower prices than what they would be worth in the likes of England, for example. Danny Mandriou’s move to Lincoln City from Shamrock Rovers for just €30k in 2022 is a prime example. At a time when Transfermarkt valued the midfielder at €375k, Lincoln triggered his massively reduced release clause when he was a standout performer in a Shamrock Rovers side who had just won the league for the second year on the bounce and were about to qualify for European group stages.

Just last week a similar instance occurred. Shelbourne’s Gavin Molloy, who has been a mainstay in Damien Duff’s side’s title push, joined Aberdeen after they triggered his release clause of around €80k, when the 22 year old’s value sits at €125k. I don’t think a young defender with bags of first team experience at a club pushing for a title in League One or the Scottish Championship, for example, would be sold for such a low fee. If City were to splash out on Slevin, the club would being doing well to be writing a cheque for less than about €30,000 – which is roughly what was spent on Pat Hoban six months ago.

There has been a new addition to the City squad in the past week, with midfielder Jacob Davenport joining from Morecambe. The 25 year old played as both a central midfielder and left back alongside Sadou Diallo, Will Patching, Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho and Brahim Díaz in the Manchester City youth setup. He made over 50 appearances in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers between 2018 and 2022, and also made 26 appearances in League Two with Morecambe last season. A deeper-operating midfielder with a wicked left foot, it seems like City may have secured another bargain from the Man City academy. Former Manchester United forward D’Mani Bughail-Mellor featured for Derry as a trialist against Crusaders last Saturday, as did released Southampton right-back Zuriel Otseh-Taiwo. The latter bagged the winner and Bughail-Mellor is said to have played well in the forward areas. Davenport won’t be available for the Drogheda game, as his contract at Morecambe doesn’t expire until the 30^th of June, but he – and any other new faces – will be welcomed additions as European and FAI Cup games fast approach.

Speaking of Europe, it seems like the City faithful have been keeping SkyScanner in business over the past ten days or so. It was announced last Tuesday that Derry would face FC Bruno’s Magpies of Gibraltar in the First Round of Europa Conference League qualifying, with the away leg in Gibraltar being played on July 11^th, just in time for a bank holiday weekend. It has been announced that, due to stadium renovations, the game will be played in the smaller Europa Point Stadium, meaning that only 200 tickets will be made available to City fans. There will certainly be a scramble for tickets once those come out.

It was going to be a big tie, as we love a European game, but when FC Copenhagen were announced as the Second Round opposition for the winner, an extra dimension was added to the First Round tie. UEFA really did us dirty with that one, as we’ll face a side who beat Manchester United and drew with Bayern Munich in the Champions League last season if we get past Magpies. It’s a glamour tie and no-one is expecting us to get into the Third Round like we did last year, but welcoming Denmark’s biggest team to the Brandywell a week before an away trip to Copenhagen is the stuff of Candystripe dreams. The Danes have got the likes of Jordan Larsson (son of Hendrik), Mohamed Elyounoussi (who Southampton paid £16m for and loaned to Celtic) and 74 time Sweden international Viktor Claesson in their squad. At this stage, we can only cross our fingers and hope we get past Magpies before focusing on what may come after.

 

Drogheda United:

Kevin Doherty has done an exceptional job on a shoestring budget since taking over as manager in late 2021, but his Drogheda United side haven’t quite clicked into gear this term. After an eighth placed finish in 2022 and a seventh placed finish in 2023, Doherty had moulded Drogheda into a team that were tough to break down and could grind out points. They’ve drawn or beaten Derry in six of the last ten games between the sides, alongside beating Shamrock Rovers and holding them to draws twice last season. This year, though, the Louth side have struggled for points after losing key players like Dayle Rooney and Conor Keeley in the off-season. With only three wins in twenty-one games, Drogheda find themselves bottom of the Premier Division, three points behind previously stricken rivals Dundalk. It seems like the Drogs haven’t coped with the increased quality of promoted sides as previously expected. UCD and Cork City got relegated last year, whom Drogheda finished ten and thirty points above respectively. The two clubs that got promoted, Galway United and Waterford, haven’t been overawed by a return to the Premier Division and find themselves fifth and fourth following highly successful campaigns in the First Division campaign last year.

Left back Evan Weir is joint with Haitian forward Frantz Pierrot at the top of Drogheda’s scoring charts, both on four. American winger Steve Zishim Bawa is next in line with three, meaning that only three players in United’s side have scored more than once this season. Weir’s two assists on top of his goal tally mean that he’s been the most creative player in the Drogheda side in 2024. Midfielder Darragh Markey has three assists and one goal so far this term and is, in my opinion, one of the league's most underrated players in the number 10 role.

Drogheda United’s twenty goals scored is the third lowest in the league but isn’t an awful return in honesty. A real worry for Kevin Doherty is the 37 goals his side has conceded, an average of 1.76 per game. At that rate they’re on course to concede another 26 goals or so in the last fifteen games of the campaign, which would see them conceding 63 by the end of the season – nine more than their tally last year. Another worry for Doherty is his side’s loan situation. The loan deal for Evan Weir from Walsall expires at the end of June, whilst Oisin Gallagher and Hayden Cann’s loans from Lincoln City have already come to an end – weakening the Louth side’s defence and midfield. The loss of Weir in particular, who has contributed to 30% of their goals this season, could be detrimental to their survival hopes. It has already been announced that forward Douglas James-Taylor will join the club in July, on-loan from Walsall. He scored twice in 26 League Two appearances last term and will be tasked with providing the goals to keep Drogheda United afloat come the end of the season.

 

Round Up:

The visitors on Friday have lost five of their last seven games and haven’t won since notching a 94^th minute winner against Dundalk on the 6^th of May. They’ve conceded fifteen in their last seven games and have scored just once in their last four. They’re desperate for a win, but a journey to Derry City, the form team in the league, isn’t what they will have wanted to see after the break. They welcome league leaders Shelbourne next week, so it doesn’t get any easier for Kevin Doherty’s men.

The Candystripes haven’t lost in over a month, winning three and drawing two of their last five games. A 2-0 friendly win over Crusaders on Saturday will see the City players fresh going into the match against Drogheda, whilst Shane McEleney and Colm Whelan both started in Derry’s U20 side’s recent 4-1 win over Dundalk U20s. Sean Patton, who has made five appearances for City’s senior side this season, bagged one of those four on Saturday too.

City are unbeaten against Drogheda United since April 2023, winning three and drawing two of the last five. The Candystripes have won two on the bounce against Drogheda in the Brandywell, going back to last August, and have lost just one in the last ten against the Louth side in Derry in all competitions. With the European ties, new signing and last minute winner against Bohs creating a positive buzz around the place during the summer break, you’d hope for a Derry City victory on Friday. A win could put Derry top of the table if Galway United defeat Shelbourne in Tolka Park, and with there being just one more league game after this until August, we’re fast approaching the business end of the season.

 

Pól O’Hare – 26 June 2024

Bohemians v Derry City: Match Preview

 

Bohemians v Derry City: Match Preview

 

Bohemian FC v Derry City FC, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 21, Dalymount Park, Thursday 13^th June 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

 

Last week: Derry City 2- 0 Galway United

Derry City kept hot on the heels of leaders Shelbourne with an impressive 2-0 win over a resilient Galway United side last Friday night. It was Derry City’s first home win over The Tribesmen since June 2017, condemning the away side to back to back defeats for the first time this season. City now find themselves hitting a good run of form, losing just once in their last ten games and putting themselves out in the clear as the league’s highest scorers.

Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men delivered one of their best all-round performances of the year, putting two past a side who had only conceded eleven all season going into Friday’s game. Galway’s defensive structure was resolute throughout, as John Caulfield lined up with a physical starting eleven in order to quell City’s attacking talent. It was two sweeping moves down either flank that brought the goals on the night too. The deadlock was broken 65 minutes in after neat interplay between Michael Duffy and Ben Doherty saw City’s number seven find space behind the right back before delivering a low ball into the box. Will Patching made no mistake, side footing into the top corner. The points were tied up twenty minutes later when Daniel Kelly made a trademark run down the right wing before crossing into Patrick Hoban, who made no mistake to find his eleventh of the campaign. With a two week break coming after Thursday’s game against Bohemians, the Candystripes finally seem to be kicking into gear.

 

Derry City:

It’s four games unbeaten now for Derry City who will want to build momentum going into the summer months. There are only three league games between now and the start of August, but with the UEFA Conference League qualifiers and FAI Cup action fast approaching in July, Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men will need to show their resilient side if they’re to keep the good performances up when the games are coming thick and fast. It’s been sixteen weeks since City’s first game of the season, and twenty games have already been played. 
Seeded in the first round of Conference League Qualifying, an unseeded Welsh team (such as Caernarfon Town who have never competed in European competition before) would be a desired draw. In the FAI Cup however, facing 2023’s winners St Patrick’s Athletic in the second round (Premier Division clubs received a bye through the first round) is a difficult start to say the least. An ideal draw there would have been Cockhill Celtic of Inishowen, who have somewhat cruelly been drawn away to Waterford.

Derry, thankfully, suffered no more injuries against Galway last Friday. Patrick McEleney will most likely be out for the season, but Will Patching’s newfound freedom in the midfield has linked City’s midfield to their forwards nicely – something which might have declined following the loss of  McEleney. Ciaron Harkin got more game-time on Friday night, as well as starting for Derry’s U20s against Finn Harps on Saturday. Another man who started that U20s fixture was Colm Whelan, who last started a game of competitive football in May 2022 – when he suffered his first ACL injury whilst playing for UCD against Finn Harps. Whelan came off the bench on three occasions for Derry City last season, scoring twice before suffering another devastating knee injury against Shamrock Rovers in a 2-0 defeat in the Brandywell. 24 at the end of the month, the former Ireland U21 striker scored and assisted for City’s U20s in the first half before being replaced 37 minutes in. He'll be a welcome addition to the squad as the season continues into the latter stages.

 

Bohemians:

Bohemians have had an inconsistent campaign so far. After winning just one of their first four games, manager Declan Devine was sacked and replaced by former Derry City assistant manager Alan Reynolds. Reynolds, who left his post as assistant manager at Waterford to take the job in Dalymount, seemed to get a reaction from his players. Bohs won five of the first seven games under his tutelage, including a 2-1 win over Derry on the 15^th of March. However, since beating Drogheda United 1-0 on the 19^th of April, Bohemians have won just once in the following seven fixtures – a 3-0 away win against Sligo in mid-May. They lost four of those seven, with the most notable defeat being a 2-0 away loss to Dundalk in what was the Lilywhites’ first win of the campaign.
Due to the call ups of Martin Miller and Michael Lilander to the Estonian national team, Bohemians will have had two weeks rest before they face Derry on Thursday, which will be followed by another two weeks due to the summer break. That’ll either mean that they’ll have a fit, sharp squad going into Thursday night, or they could be distracted by having just one game in a four week spell. 

Former Derry City striker James Akintunde, who joined Bohs ahead of the 2023 campaign, is having his best season in the red and black jersey. Five goals and two assists sees him top of the scoring charts in Phisborough, whilst Dayle Rooney’s tally of three goals and six assists has him down as the Dublin club’s most creative player. Those six assists have the former Drogheda winger second in the assist tally in the league too, just one behind St Patrick’s Athletic’s Brandon Kavanagh. Michael Duffy and Paul McMullan sit joint fourth in those rankings, each chipping in with four assists. Jordan Flores is always a threat from set-pieces too and has scored both of the penalties he’s taken in the league this season. Hull City loanee centre back Jevon Mills has been solid since signing at the start of the campaign, as has Polish goalkeeper Kacper Chorążka who has kept five clean sheets filling in for James Talbot.

Currently seventh in the league, Bohemians sit level on points with St. Pat’s on 24 - eight points above the drop zone. Bohs do, however, have four games in hand on both the Inchicore side and Derry City. They have at least one game in hand on everyone else in the division too. Pat’s look to be in a perilous position, as the two teams below them in the league both have two games in hand – something which could drag the Saints into a relegation battle if results were to go against them. Relegation doesn’t seem to be as much of a worry for Bohs though. They’re only three points behind Galway United in fifth and, if they were to win their four games in hand, that would take them up to 36 points.

 

Round-up:

Michael Duffy’s late winner in the Brandywell a month ago meant that Derry beat Bohemians for the first time in a year. From the last ten fixtures between the two, Derry have won five, Bohs have won two and there have been three draws. There hasn’t been goalless encounter in Dalymount between these two since July 2019, with the following eight games in Phisborough producing 28 goals, an average of 3.5 goals per game. 
Bohemian’s 2-1 win there in March was their first home victory over City since September 2020. James Akintunde opened the scoring for Derry on that day nearly four years ago, before the home side scored in the 94^th and 96^th minutes to snatch the points. There have been some classics in Dalymount between Derry and Bohs in the last few years too. Immediately springing to mind is Derry’s 3-2 win there in July 2022, and a 3-3 draw back in September 2021. James Akintunde thought he’d claimed the win for Derry then when he scored in the 91^st minute, before now Bradford City defender Ciaran Kelly netted in the 96^th minute to split the shares.
One thing to look out for on Thursday night is the referee. 33 year old Rob Hennessy, who oversaw Bohs' 2-1 win over Derry earlier in the year, will officiate his third Derry City game of the season. The Candystripes haven't won a game that Hennessy took charge of since April 2022, when they put four past St Pat's in Inchicore. That's eleven games that City have gone winless when the official was Rob Hennessy. The Candystripes will be hoping to change that this time round.

Derry City were top of the league for twelve minutes on Friday, that’s how long it was been Will Patching’s opener and John Martin’s winner for Shelbourne against Dundalk. If Shels fail to beat Waterford away on Thursday evening, and Derry get the better of Bohemians, City will go into the summer break top of the league – albeit despite Shelbourne’s game in hand advantage. Now seven points clear of Shamrock Rovers in third place, Derry can be assured that they’ll stay at least second even if Rovers win their next two and City fail to score points in that time. Alan Reynolds’ men will be looking for their first win in three, whilst Derry are unbeaten in four and have kept clean sheets in the last three games. Don’t forget that this is a Thursday night game due to the Euros starting on Friday, but this one could be a good one.
Pól O'Hare - 12th June 2024

 

Derry City v Galway United: Match Preview

 

Derry City v Galway United: Match Preview

Derry City v. Galway United, League of Ireland Premier Division, Round 20, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, Friday 7^th June 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

 

Last weekend: Dundalk 0-0 Derry City, Derry City 3-0 Waterford

After a disappointing draw to then bottom-side Dundalk on Friday, Derry City bounced back with a dominant 3-0 win over Waterford – the form side in the division. The Candystripes had the opportunity to go level on points with table-topping Shelbourne with two wins on Friday and Monday, but the draw in Oriel Park didn’t have the City faithful hopeful for the visit of Waterford.

The Dundalk match wasn’t a pretty affair. In Jon Daly’s first home game as Dundalk manager, his side were well organised and threatened Brian Maher’s goal more than he would have liked. The City keeper made some fine saves to keep the Candystripes in a game which, on another day, could have seen the home side come away two or three goals to the good. There were 24 fouls in all, including a free-kick given against Dundalk goalie Ross Munro for stepping outside of his box with the ball in his hands. Will Patching’s following effort was smothered by the Scottish shot-stopper, in what was probably Derry’s best opportunity of the game. It was a performance that Ruaidhrí Higgins’ men would have wanted to forget as soon as possible, as City went back up the road fortunate to have gained a point.

Dundalk’s 3-2 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic on Monday night, in an occasion which saw Stephen Kenny face the side with which he won ten trophies for the first time since leaving in 2018, showed that the Lilywhites certainly had the ability to put Derry to the sword had their strikers brought their shooting boots.

In front of just over 2000 in the Brandywell, at an awkward 6pm Monday evening kick-off, the Derry players started on the front foot. Buoyed on to right Friday night’s wrongs, City found space and created chances from both the flanks and through the middle. Three goals within the first half hour had the Candystripes going into the break comfortable. It was some of the best football they’ve played this campaign, and it was refreshing to see the team go forward with such urgency and energy. Michael Duffy opened the scoring after eleven minutes, firing into the top left corner from inside the box to set the tone for the evening. Mark Connolly scored his first goal in nearly two years ten minutes later, latching onto Will Patching’s cross to convert a perfectly placed header past Sam Sargeant in the Waterford goal, rounding off a tidy team move. Pat Hoban bagged his tenth of the season on the half hour mark, sweeping into the bottom corner and giving Waterford no hope of a comeback. The same again on Friday would do nicely.

 

Derry City:

After news last week that Colm Whelan has returned to full training ahead of a return in the summer following more than a year out with another ACL injury, it was another injury to a key player that overshadowed Monday’s performance. Patrick McEleney, starting just his second game of an injury hit campaign, was tackled by Waterford’s Gbemi Arubi on the hour mark and fell to the ground near the half way line. It was immediately obvious that the City skipper had suffered a serious injury, with it rumoured to be a broken arm. It’s another heartbreaking setback for the midfielder, who was just returning to full fitness. It could unfortunately be three or four months before we see the number 10 back in a Derry shirt.

Cameron McJannet was an unused substitute on both Friday and Monday night, whilst Ronan Boyce only played fifteen minutes against Dundalk and remained on the bench against Waterford. Sam Todd has been out of the team after being substituted at half-time against Sligo Rovers, whilst Jordan McEneff’s foot injury will see him side-lined for considerably longer yet. In positive news, Ciaron Harkin played for the first time since coming off the bench against Waterford back in April. The 28 year old may see more gametime as he regains full fitness. It was also announced during the week that versatile midfielder Cameron Dummigan has committed his future to the Candystripes, signing a new contract which will keep him at the Brandywell until 2026. He’s one of multiple key players out of contract in November and will hopefully be the first of many to sign new deals at Derry City.

Pat Hoban netted his tenth goal of the season against Waterford, five of which have come against the Munster side, making him the first Derry striker to hit ten in the league since Jamie McGonigle two years ago. A City player hasn’t won the golden boot since Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe, who finished the season with 14 goals in 2019. Hoban needs another four to beat that tally and his smart finish on Monday has put him a goal clear of Pádraig Amond in second and Shamrock Rovers duo Aaron Greene and Johnny Kenny in joint third in the scoring charts. Three different scorers and three different providers showed the quality of Derry’s attacking play against Waterford – something which they’ll want to carry into Friday’s fixture at home to Galway United.

 

Galway United:

Much has been said of Galway United’s goalscoring exploits in the First Division last season. The Tribesmen bagged 98 goals in 36 games, an average of 2.73 goals per game. They also conceded just 18, meaning they kept a clean sheet in 50% of their matches. They’ve carried that defensive form into the Premier Division, conceding just eleven in eighteen fixtures – three better than next best Shelbourne. Galway haven’t, however, found scoring as easy to come by in the Premier Division. Their tally of 14 is second lowest, above only Dundalk (12) and six behind the next lowest scoring teams, Sligo Rovers and Drogheda United (both 20).

Despite not scoring many, Galway United sit fifth in the table, with three games in hand on Derry City and St. Patrick’s Athletic, and at least one on everyone else aside from Bohemians. Seeing that they’re just four points off Shamrock Rovers in third, some goalscoring form could have them right in the mix for European spots. Wins away to Derry and at home to Shelbourne have been the highlight of John Caulfield’s season, as well as scoring twice in additional time to beat Drogheda United 3-2 after going 2-1 behind in mid-May.

Defender Maurice Nugent is joint with Stephen Walsh as Galway’s top scorer this term, both with three goals, whilst club captain and former Derry City midfielder Conor McCormack tops the assist charts. Considering that Wassim Aoucharia and David Hurley contributed to 39 of Galway’s 98 goals last term, and only Hurley has found the net on one occassion this season, John Caulfield’s men could do with some confidence in forward areas. We saw against Derry that United are a very organised team and can hurt on the counter attack, something which Ruaidhrí Higgins will need to have his side wary of.

 

Round-Up:

Galway United’s win in the Brandywell in late March was their first on Foyleside since May 2015 and handed City their first defeat of the campaign. The two have only met in the north-west eight times since 2010, with the home side coming away with victories on five occasions. Only one of those was a draw, in September 2016, whilst Galway recorded wins twice. Looking at the bigger picture, Derry City have beaten Galway just three times in their last ten league meetings – the last coming in June 2017 in Maginn Park. Nathan Boyle and Ronan Curtis scored twice within the opening nine minutes to take home all three points that day. Current Galway captain Conor McCormack was also shown a red card after just 28 minutes in a goalless draw between the two nearly eight years ago to the day.

St. Pat’s’ 2-1 win over United last week was the Connacht men’s first loss in nine league games, going back to the first of April. After losing four of their first eight, Galway won four and drew five of those nine following games. They’ll certainly be no roll-overs on Friday and, knowing that they have so many games in hand on those around them, Galway will be fighting for every point that they can get to rise up the table. Veteran goalkeeper Brendan Clarke has kept an impressive ten clean sheets this term, owing to the solidity of the defence in front of him. If City are to win on Friday, they’ll need to be firing on all cylinders to break down John Caulfield’s resilient defensive structure.

Pól O'Hare – 5^th June 2024