19.45 29 Mar 2019 -
Referee: Alan Carey
League Preview: Cabinteely -v- Galway United
- Andrew Dempsey
- Fri, Mar 29 2019
CABINTEELY
Cabinteely will look to bounce back from their shock home defeat to Limerick last time out with a win over second-from-bottom Galway United at Stradbrook Park (kick-off 7.45pm).
President Michael D Higgins will be a distinguished guest attending the Stradbrook spectacle, although he will certainly not be cheering in favour of the hosts.
Cabinteely, on the whole, have enjoyed a positive start to 2019 with Pat Devlin’s side one point off top spot after five games.
Wins over title favourites Shelbourne and Drogheda United, both away from home, have ensured an excellent start for Cabo.
However, last week’s defeat to Limerick was tough to stomach by all Cabinteely as a win would have left them top after the first five games of the season.
Speaking with the club’s official media team in the build-up, Cabo midfielder Keith Dalton revealed the squad are raring to make amends of last week’s defeat at Stradbrook.
“Hopefully we can pick up where we left off before the Limerick game and get going in the right direction once more,” he said.
“There’s a good vibe in the camp so it’s all positive.”
Paul Fox, Kieran Butler and Daniel Blackbyrne are set to miss out on Cabo’s day out in front of President Higgins.
GALWAY UNITED
Galway United make the trip to the capital to play Cabinteely in a mouth-watering First Division clash as they seek to win their second consecutive game away from home.
Both teams have a plethora of youth within their respective squads so it can be expected that both sides will be targeting this game as an opportunity to get three points on the board.
Galway, according to manager Alan Murphy, were poor last time out against Drogheda United and he is hoping for a response after last week’s defeat to the Boynesiders.
“Reflecting on the Drogheda game, things didn’t go our way and we never really started,” he told the club’s media team.
“I don’t think we were up against a superior outfit or anything, we just didn’t get anywhere near the levels that we can operate at.
“We move on to Cabinteely, who with the exception of last week against Limerick, are probably the surprise package of this year for some, in terms of where they are in the table.”
“Even at this early stage, it’s a big game for us. We will need to up our performances substantially to compete.”
Conor Layng will definitely miss out, as will ‘keeper Kevin Horgan, while Iarfhlaith Davoren is also ruled out with a calf strain, Andrew Peters is also not expected to make it, having only returned from injury this week.
Referee: Alan Carey.
MATCH STATS
Cabinteely have never defeated Galway United in their League of Ireland history. The sides have only met three times with Galway coming out on top in all three.
Cabinteely are yet to win a home game this season. Galway on the other hand have also struggled at home so they will be hoping that they can capitalise on a potential lack of confidence within the Cabinteely camp.
Cabinteely’s top scorer Rob Manley is also the First Division’s top scorer with five goals. Manley has been involved with over 50% of Cabo’s goals this year so far and was perhaps unlucky to not have more against Limerick last time out.
BETTING
Cabinteely 13/10; Draw 11/5; Galway United 9/5.
PREDICTION
Cabinteely 2-0 Galway United
Cabinteely
Injured: Kieran Butler, Daniel Blackbyrne, Paul Fox.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Galway United
Injured: Conor Layng, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Kevin Horgan.
Doubtful: Andrew Peters.
Suspended: None.
Unavailable: Colin Kelly.
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