MATCH PREVIEW | Drogheda United

Galway United host relegation rivals Drogheda United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday evening. Kick-off: 7.45pm.

The sides are separated by only one point in the league table ahead of Friday’s crucial game and Pete Mahon’s charges have had the upper hand when the sides met this season.

Drogheda came away with the three points on opening day of the season thanks to a second half Gareth McCaffrey goal. Two late strikes from Padraic Cunningham and Jesse Devers salvaged a draw for Shane Keegan’s side at United Park in May.

On Friday, Galway United will aim to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time since March 2016 when the Boynesiders visit Eamonn Deacy Park.

SHANE KEEGAN ON RELEGATION SIX POINTER AGAINST DROGHEDA UNITED
“Something we have failed to do this year is string back-to-back victories together.

“We eyed this couple of fixtures up, we felt the Limerick game was winnable and it was great to go and get that win, now that puts us in a position where we’re going into the Drogheda game with a real chance of producing.

“We’ve looked at it in training all week, there is no point trying to play the game down or take any pressure out of the game because you’ll only be lying to yourself.

“It’s a massive game, it’s a six pointer, it’s up to the players to stand up to that pressure and show what they’re made of and deliver one of their best performances of the season in the most important game of the season.

“The games between the five bottom teams are absolutely crucial and that starts with Drogheda on Friday.”

TEAM NEWS
United will be without injured duo Maurice Nugent (hip) and Gary Kinneen (hamstring).

Shane Keegan has no suspensions to contend with ahead of the Drogheda United game.

OFFICIALS
Referee: James McKell
Assistant: Allen Lynch
Assistant: Emmett Dynan
Fourth official: John McLoughlin

GALWAY UNITED GOALSCORERS
Ronan Murray – 8
Vinny Faherty – 4
Padraic Cunningham – 3
Stephen Folan – 3
Kevin Devaney – 2
David Cawley – 2
Gary Shanahan – 2
Eoin McCormack – 1
Jesse Devers – 1
Gavan Holohan – 1

FORM GUIDE

Galway United’s previous five games
Sligo Rovers 1-1 Galway United
Galway United 1-2 Bray Wanderers
Dundalk 2-0 Galway United
St Patrick’s Athletic 1-1 Galway United
Galway United 3-1 Limerick

Drogheda United’s previous five games
Drogheda United 0-6 Dundalk
Shamrock Rovers 4-1 Drogheda United
Drogheda United 0-2 Limerick
Drogheda United 0-2 Finn Harps
Sligo Rovers 1-1 Drogheda United

LAST MEETING
May 5th, 2017 | Drogheda United 2-2 Galway United

Drogheda United goalscorer: Adam Wixted (brace)

Galway United goalscorers: Padraic Cunningham, Jesse Devers