20.00 8 Aug 2014 -
Referee: Andrew Mullally
League Preview: Wexford Youths -v- Galway FC
- Simon O'Gorman
- Fri, Aug 08 2014
WEXFORD YOUTHS
Just two points separate these two sides as Galway make the journey south to take on Shane Keegan’s men at Ferrycarrig Park on Friday night.
With Wexford in fourth place in the First Division table they still have everything to play for in pursuit of a play-off place. Their recent form is promising and they have won three of their last six league matches, including a 3-0 defeat of local neighbours Waterford United, and their only defeats in that period were against division leaders and favourites for the title, Longford Town.
Youths fans will be quietly confident of finally getting a result in the league against Galway, who have beaten them twice so far this year, with striker Danny Furlong beginning to look like the goal-machine of old once more.
Furlong has netted a six times in the last four league matches, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Waterford, and he also scored in the 1-1 EA Cup draw against Galway which Wexford went on to win in a penalty shootout.
Wexford stayed in the EA Cup right up until the semi-finals, in which they lost 5-0 to Dundalk last Monday, but Keegan is adamant that this league fixture is the more important of the two games.
Writing in the match programme, he said, “Occasions like Monday are great for the profile of the club and great for the lads to be involved in but this was always going to be the most important game of the week. I don't think this will decide who gets advantage in the push for promotion but you can't get away from the feeling that this game will be looked back on as a big day in somebody’s season come the end.”
The Youths will be without long term injury victims Sean Skelly and James Dermody, as well as the suspended Dean Broaders, but Keegan will have Craig McCabe fit and available along with Andy Mulligan and Peter Higgins who both missed the trip to Dundalk.
GALWAY FC
Despite comprehensive wins over Cobh Ramblers and Shamrock Rovers B, Galway’s promotion ambitions have hit a number of speed bumps over the past month or so with damaging defeats to both of the teams above them, Longford and Shelbourne.
Last weekend’s narrow reverse at home to Johnny McDonnell’s Shelbourne means that the Tribesmen are now seven points behind the Dubliners while Division leaders Longford are now surely uncatchable with a 13 point gap now lying between them and third placed Galway.
There are reasons to be cheerful, however, and manager Tommy Dunne will be delighted to have striker Vinny Faherty in such fine form. Faherty has hit five goals in his last four league outings including a hat-trick against Cobh two weeks ago. And with Galway unbeaten away from home all season in the league, Dunne will be looking to turn recent draws into wins as his men look to cement a play-off spot in the promotion race.
Acknowledging the narrow gap between the two teams, Dunne said "There's a bounce of a ball between us.... You have got to be positive and try and win the game. From our aspect, it helps if you don't get beaten but in saying that, we've been positive away from home since we started, there's no reason we should change that now.”
Dunne will be without Martin Coneely for the trip to the South-East while striker Enda Curran also picked up a knock in a friendly against Mullingar Athletic during the week. He will face a fitness test before the game but Gary Shanahan and Ryan Connolly are both expected to play despite carrying slight knocks.
Referee: Andrew Mullally
MATCH FACTS
Galway have won both their previous two league meetings with Wexford this season, beating the Youths 1-0 on both occasions. But Wexford got some measure of revenge by beating Galway on penalties in the EA Cup.
Danny Furlong has bagged almost half of Wexford’s league total this year, netting 12 of the club’s 26 league goals.
The Youths have only failed to score once in their last six league games while Galway have failed to find the net in three of their last six.
BETTING
Wexford 21/10; Draw 12/5; Galway 11/10.
PREDICTION
Wexford 1-1 Galway
Wexford Youths
Injured: Sean Skelly, James Dermody.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Dean Broaders.
Galway FC
Injured: Martin Coneely.
Doubtful: Enda Curran.
Suspended: None
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and …