Galway United v Derry City: Match Preview (30th August 2024)

 

Galway United v Derry City: Match Preview (30^th August 2024)

 

Galway United FC v. Derry City FC., League of Ireland Premier Division Round 29, Eamonn Deacy Park, Friday 30^th August 2024, kick-off 7.45pm

Derry City find themselves going into a League of Ireland game top of the table for the first time in almost six months after beating Waterford last Friday. Ben Doherty’s speculative header, dropped over the line by the Blues goalkeeper, separated the sides and saw the Candystripes capitalise on Shelbourne’s draw with Bohemians. City now travel to their third away game in a row as they prepare to face Galway United, a team pushing for European spots.

Last time out - Waterford 0-1 Derry City:

The Candystripes lined out in Waterford knowing they’d been victorious in five of the last six meetings between the two sides. Former Liverpool and Derby County defender Andre Wisdom went straight into the starting eleven at right back, allowing Cameron Dummigan to play in his more favoured central midfield role. It was an experienced back line for City with Ben Doherty the only man of the four to be under 30 years of age.

City started on the front foot, utilising the pace on the counter of Paul McMullan and Michael Duffy. Thirteen minutes in and Derry had their first opportunity, Michael Duffy driving through the middle of the park before spreading the Waterford defence with a pass to McMullan. The Scottish winger’s ball in was dangerous but was just behind the two Derry men in the box. Ten minutes before the end of the half and McMullan found himself inches away from opening the scoring. With space behind the left back again, McMullan drove a low shot off the near post after being played through by Adam O’Reilly, playing in a more advanced position than usual. The home side had a big opportunity of their own on the break of half-time. After some scrambling in the box, former City trialist Rowan McDonald’s low shot was saved superbly by Brian Maher in the City goal. Both Mark Connolly and Ciarán Coll put their bodies on the line at the near post to deny the following Waterford efforts and keep the scores level going into the break.

The early stages of the second period saw both sides have their fair share of opportunities. Waterford’s Christie Pattison rattled the same post as Paul McMullan less then ten minutes into the half when he spun Mark Connolly on the edge of the box and saw his left footed effort whistle past Brian Maher before striking the upright - City and Waterford both denied by the same post. The deadlock was finally broken on the hour mark as Cameron Dummigan floated a ball deep towards the far post. Caught by the wind, the ball was met by the head of Ben Doherty. The full back’s looping header troubled Louis Jones in the home side’s goal, who struggled to get a safe grasp on the ball and dropped it before quickly picking it up. After a second or two, the linesman flagged for a goal – much to the dismay of the home support. 1-0 City and a slice of luck to put the Candystripes top of the table.

After some resolute defending, the City faithful were nearly heartbroken in added time when Gbemi Arubi poked past Brian Maher in the six yard box. The linesman came to the aid of the Candystripes, flagging for offside and securing the points for Derry by doing so. It wasn’t pretty, but it didn’t have to be. That’s four wins against Waterford in 2024 for Derry City, who kept four clean sheets and scored nine goals in doing so. Bellissimo.

Derry City:

Friday night saw the introductions of two new recruits for Derry City. Andre Wisdom, a shock mid-week signing and a player of real pedigree. It was a signing which, for some reason, was very much scrutinised as a stat did the rounds claiming that the 31 year old played 12 games in 3 years. Turns out that wasn’t true, as Wisdom played 30 odd games in the National League last season and completed a full pre-season with League Two side Salford City. He looked solid at right-back, particularly in the second half after getting up to the speed of the game. Defensively sound and forward thinking in terms of his passes, he looks like he’ll be a great addition to the squad. Wisdom knows the task at hand too, it’s not often you see a former Premier League player celebrating a late tackle on their League of Ireland debut.

Another man who made his debut against Waterford was Sean Robertson, brought on to replace Paul McMullan late in the second half. The 23 year old Englishman looked lively too. A natural wing-back, he looked quick and skilful playing higher up the pitch and won a free kick in a dangerous position after beating his opponent with a deft flick before being fouled. He could be a good rotational option at right back or right wing. A former Crystal Palace youth player, Robertson played alongside Sadou Diallo for Forest Green Rovers in 2022 and spent 10 games on loan at Crewe Alexandra last year. He hasn’t got many senior games under his belt but his energy may be useful going into the final stages of the campaign. The third addition of last week was 22 year old left-sided centre back Duncan Idehen. The defender spent time in the youth ranks of Norwich City, Lincoln City, Grimsby Town and Birmingham City before joining Bristol City. Idehen played two senior games in Bristol, lining out for Yeovil Town and Bath City in the National League before signing for Derry. With Sam Todd following Jordan McEneff to Larne on loan, it seems like Idehen could be the answer to the left-sided centre back issues going into the future.

City looked good going forward against Waterford but had to show a different side of themselves when the going got tough. We saw it against Cork City two weeks ago too, we took a big chance when we got it and defended well to get us over the line. Two tough wins in two tough games down in Munster. Will Patching had more freedom in the midfield, showing energy and quality throughout. Adam O’Reilly played further forward than usual, whilst Cameron Dummigan looked composed in the middle of the park. The injury to Dummigan in the second half didn’t look too good, as he hobbled off to be replaced by Sadou Diallo with it later being revealed that the Lurgan man’s season is over. Dummigan will be a big miss, but the introduction of Andre Wisdom and return to fitness of Ronan Boyce may see the likes of Jacob Davenport given game-time in the middle. The Englishman has only played 45 minutes of football since signing from Morecambe in June but looks to be of real quality. After a worrying transfer window where our business was minimal at best, the introduction of three new players in the past week has given us more squad depth in stretched areas. Top of the league with eight to go and City are getting used to grinding out results away from home. Keep it up and we’ve got a proper title race on our hands folks.

Galway United:

I can’t do a preview of Galway United without mentioning the season they had last year. 30 wins from 36 in the league, just two losses and a goal difference of +80 saw the Tribesmen cruise to finish 25 points above Waterford in second place to win the First Division title. A first season back in the Premier Division since 2017 and United seem to have gotten into the swing of things quickly. Despite winning just two of their first six, Galway kick started their season with an away win over Derry City in late March – inflicting the Candsytripes’ first home loss of the season and triggering a run in which John Caulfield’s men lost just one of their next ten games. Defensive solidity has been the way forward for Galway – they’ve conceded just 20 goals in 27 games, a figure bettered only by Shelbourne (18).

The experience of Brendan Clarke between the sticks, supported by a quality defensive structure and energetic, hard-hitting midfielders, United have mastered the art of solidifying a place in the top flight after getting promoted for the first time in seven years. It mightn’t always be pretty, but it’s effective. Galway have only lost twice to teams outside of Dublin this campaign and find themselves sixth in the league, seven points clear of St. Pat’s in seventh. They don’t need to worry about going near the First Division again for the foreseeable, the Tribesmen’s sights are set on European horizons. Galway are a point behind Waterford in third and have a game in hand on their fellow promoted side. It’s been 22 years since European football graced the shores of Galway’s Atlantic coast, but they’re very much in the running to change that this time round.

Brendan Clarke has played all 27 league games for Galway United, keeping 13 clean sheets this term. Centre half Rob Slevin, a rumoured target of Derry City, and Killian Brouder have been mainstays in the defence, whilst Jeannot Esua has shown his quality at right full back. American Patrick Hickey has come off the bench fourteen times this season and opened the scoring away to Shamrock Rovers last weekend. The signing of Greg Cunningham, a former Ireland international left back who played in the Premier League for Cardiff City and made more than 300 appearances in the EFL brought another experienced head to the defensive line. Jimmy Keohane, a diminutive attacking midfielder, returned to the League of Ireland after leaving Cork City for Rochdale in 2019 and has started six games since signing for Caulfield’s men in July.

Conor McCormack, formerly of Derry City, is still going strong as one of the league’s finest midfielders at 34, whilst the signings of Bobby Burns and Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe from Glentoran added something different going forward. Junior, who won the Premier Division golden boot with Derry City in 2019, scored his first goal in maroon in the 6-0 cup win over Longford Town, whilst Bobby Burns’ pace down the flanks gives Galway a real threat on the wing. Ed McCarthy, similarly, has four goal involvements from the right wing this term.

It's in front of goal where Galway have struggled in 2024, which is surprising seeing how lethal they were last year. Their 23 goals scored is the second lowest in the division, above only bottom-side Dundalk’s 19. For reference, Derry City have played just one more game than Galway but have converted 19 more goals. Stephen Walsh, who netted in the Brandywell in March, is the Tribesmen’s top scorer with seven so far. Only centre back Maurice Nugent and the formerly mentioned Ed McCarthy have managed to bag more than twice this season. David Hurley, who scored 22 and assisted 6 from attacking midfield last year has only contributed to two goals in 2024 as he’s struggled for form in the Premier Division. Deep lying central midfielder Conor McCormack tops the assist charts for Galway with three. Sometimes though, you just have to Roll With It, and United’s solidity has them in good stead heading into the latter stages. If Caulfield’s men find some attacking flair and land a quality number 9, they could be seriously good in 2025.

Round-up:

I started writing this when Oasis weren’t back, and now they are. They released ‘Be Here Now’ in August 1997, three months and two days after Derry City last won the Premier Division. As a Derry fan, where else would you rather be now than here? Felix Healy’s men won the league with two games to spare 27 years ago, whilst I doubt we’ll manage that in 2024, it’s been a long time since we were top with eight games to go. Maybe that’s The Masterplan, make it as nerve-wracking as possible for three months leading up to it. Friday night won’t be any easier, Derry City haven’t beaten Galway away from home in more than nine years. The previous encounter in Eamonn Deacy Park this year was a 0-0 draw in May, whilst The Tribesmen were victorious in the Brandywell in March. City can take solace in knowing that they took all three points in the most recent meeting between the two when Will Patching and Pat Hoban converted in the second half in the Brandywell back in June. Shelbourne, who still have a game in hand on City and sit behind only on goal difference, travel to bottom side Dundalk on Friday. Every game really has to be a must win for City from now on in, but Galway know that a win for them could put them firmly within the European places. Don’t Go Away, there’s definitely a title race on, maybe.

Pól O’Hare – 27^th August 2024