Derry City Match Preview

Galway United will be looking to start the second series of games with a positive result when they travel to the Brandywell Stadium to face Derry City on Friday night (7.45pm kick-off).

The Tribesmen go into the fixture on the back of a heavy defeat at home to St Patrick’s Athletic, while Derry City were held by Longford Town at the City Calling Stadium.

When the sides met earlier in the season at Eamonn Deacy Park, Derry City pegged Galway United back after Sam Oji’s debut goal. Sean Houston rifled an effort home at the back post and Ryan Curran sickened the hosts with a late headed winner.

Follow Friday’s game live on Twitter at @galwayunitedfc.

DUNNE FOCUSED ON IMPROVING IN SECOND SERIES
“Looking ahead to the Derry City game, circumstances haven’t been ideal, preparation wise,” Dunne conceded.

“We’ve had a lot of bad luck with injuries this season, to be fair to our physiotherapist Emmett Hartigan, it was out of his hands. We have three players with long-term injuries and now we’ve picked up a few more niggle injuries this week which is very frustrating.

“We are depleted at the moment, but I believe we’ve got a strong, starting group, and as a team, we are going to the Brandywell hoping to pick up another result on the road.

“I know what it’s like to play for, play against and manage against Derry City. It’s always difficult at the Brandywell. It’s still a tough venue for sides to visit.

“You need to be on your game and you also need a bit of luck on the day to get a positive result.

“After last week’s loss against St Patrick’s Athletic at home, we’re looking to bounce back and kick-start the second series of games with a positive result.”

TEAM NEWS
Galway United will be without nine first team players for the trip to the Brandywell Stadium.

Kilian Cantwell (knee), Andy O’Connell (ankle) and Jason Molloy (broken toe) remain unavailable for selection as they continue their rehabilitation.

Marc Ludden (knee), Kevin Garcia (hamstring), Sam Oji (hip) and Ger Hanley (groin) are also sidelined.

Conor Barry misses the trip due to college exams.

Alex Byrne is suspended after his sending-off against St Patrick’s Athletic last week.

REFEREE
Rob Rogers (Dublin)

GALWAY UNITED LEAGUE GOALSCORERS
Enda Curran – 6
Jake Keegan – 1
Sam Oji – 1
David O’Leary – 1
Padraic Cunningham – 1
Gary Shanahan – 1
Ryan Connolly – 1

FORM GUIDE
Galway United – LWLWL
Derry City – DDWLD

LAST MEETING
6th March, 2015: Galway United (Sam Oji) 1-2 Derry City (Sean Houston, Ryan Curran)

LAST TEN LEAGUE MEETINGS
31/10/08: Derry City 2-0 Galway United
3/4/09: Derry City 1-1 Galway United
28/5/09: Galway United 0-3 Derry City
1/9/09: Derry City 1-3 Galway United
16/10/09: Galway United 3-1 Derry City
15/4/11: Galway United 1-4 Derry City
30/5/11: Derry City 6-0 Galway United
5/8/11: Galway United 0-3 Derry City
16/10/11: Derry City 4-0 Galway United
6/7/15: Galway United 1-2 Derry City

OVERALL LEAGUE RECORD v DERRY CITY
P49 W12 D10 L27 F40 A104

BIGGEST WIN
Galway United 3-1 Derry City (x3)

BIGGEST DEFEAT
8/10/89: Derry City 9-1 Galway United

PLAYED FOR BOTH CLUBS
Shaun Kelly, Enda Curran

MATCH FACTS AND STATS v DERRY CITY

• Friday night’s game will be the 50th league meeting of the sides. Galway United won the first clash 3-1 on the 4th of October, 1987. United goalscorers were Denis Bonner, Gerry Mullen and Paul “Ski” McGee.
• Galway United have only won 3 league outings at the Brandywell Stadium in 23 visits.
• In the 00/01 seasons, Galway United recorded four back-to-back league wins against the Candystripes.
• United have only recorded two consecutive league victories against Derry City, in 2000 and in 2009.
• In 49 league outings, the sides have finished scoreless on only three occasions.
• Former Candystripe Alan Murphy helped Galway United to their biggest league win against Derry City in 2009, when he fired past Derry City netminder Ger Doherty from long range in the 75th minute at he Brandywell Stadium.
• Galway United have not kept a clean sheet against Derry City in 12 league matches.