Galway FC host Shamrock Rovers B

Galway FC need to beat Shamrock Rovers’ ‘B’ in Eamonn Deacy Park tonight (7.45pm) to stay in touch at the top of the Airtricity League First Division.

Having gone in to the midseason break in a fine run of form, Tommy Dunne’s side have struggled to get back to the pitch of competitive action since the resumption, going down 3-0 at home to Longford Town before blowing a winning hand against Waterford United in the RSC last Friday when, after passing-up enough chances to win three games, a defensive error allowed the home side snatch a late and undeserved share of the spoils.

They still occupy the second play-off spot, sitting in third place in the table, but there is a bit of a gap opening to Longford Town and Shelbourne above them; while Wexford Youths are snapping at their heels in fourth place.

Still, if ever there was a game in which to try and put those two recent disappointing results behind them, then tonight’s game surely fits that bill. Shamrock Rovers B are second from bottom in the table, and go into tonight’s game on the back of five straight defeats, while they haven’t hit the net in their last six outings – the last time they found the net was against Galway FC in a 1-1 draw in Tallaght back in May.

While last week’s draw was a disappointment, assistant manager Leo Tierney said there were enough positives in the game to take into tonight and the remainder of the season.

“At times we played really well, their keeper made a couple of good saves but we looked solid, I thought we looked safe enough in the second half.

“They didn’t really threaten us, then they have a man sent off and you think you can push on and win it, but you need to take the second goal in a game like that when you’re away from home and they are battling for everything,” Tierney said.