Play-Off Preview: Shelbourne -v- Galway F.C

SHELBOURNE

Even though they made the promotion play-off, Shelbourne have no reason to be pleased with their recent form. With two draws and a defeat in their last three games, Shelbourne will need to turn their form around to ensure victory on Friday night against Galway FC (Kick-off 8pm).

The 2-0 first leg defeat was a crushing blow for Shelbourne, and it is vital that they don’t let that performance dampen their spirits going into this second leg.

Talking about the first leg, Shelbourne manager Johnny McDonnell remarked "Galway probably deserved to win the game. I think they were better than us on the night. The players themselves feel disappointed from last week-end. It wasn't one of our better performances away from home and I feel the players think that they have let themselves down."

When asked about his thoughts on the upcoming second leg, McDonnell stated, “It's only half-time. I know its 2-0 but we're quite capable of bouncing back, but it's definitely going to be a difficult task. We've obviously got to be very offensive in what we are trying to do, but in saying that you can't go mad either because the first goal in this game is going to be really vital, so it'll be a bit of a chess game for a while, but we've got to really have a go then and we've got to try and get the first goal.

“We can't leave ourselves open at the back we've got to stay in the tie as long as possible and if we can get the first goal and push forward then - we could end up going to extra time . I'm very confident of us winning the game."

Shelbourne will be without the injured trio of Darren Tinnelly, Willo McDonagh and Brian Gannon, but apart from that McDonnell has a full complement of players.

GALWAY FC

Galway’s recent form has been better than their upcoming opponents, but it hasn’t been great; they’ve had one win and two draws in their past three games. Indeed, the win came in the first leg of this promotion play-off, and the Tribesmen will be confident of triumphing in this second leg. However, they must maintain the mental focus to ensure that they come out on top.

Talking in a press conference, Galway manager Tommy Dunne insists it has been business as usual throughout the week in the lead up to the second leg of the Play-off.
 

"We did our recovery session on Saturday and we trained on Monday and Tuesday and we'll train again tonight. We're getting ready.

"We can't pre-empt anything, whether Johnny McDonnell decides to change a few bits - we don't know. We've got to be ready for everything that's thrown at us.

"We're hoping we can enforce our own game on the match. At the end of it all, it's a Cup Final, we had a decent first half but we have to have a decent second half now as well.”

Dunne says that he doesn’t expect to make many changes, remarking, "You take the game on its merits and try and go and perform and win," Dunne told www.galwayfc.ie.

"In saying that, you don't have to be silly in doing that. You have to be careful because Shelbourne are going to come out of the blocks and we have to be ready for that.

"As long as the team realises that when we got results at Tolka Park earlier in the season, those were performances from a team that were hungry and prepared to work exceptionally hard for each other.

"We have to make sure we're focused totally on Friday night to get a result. If can get any type of result, then we know we're through to the Play-off Final."

Dunne feels the first goal could be vital.

"The first goal is vital for either side," Dunne said.

"If we score first, we have to keep pushing. If Shelbourne score first, there's no reason for us to be panicking or getting uptight.

"If you score first then you just have to keep playing and doing what you're doing. We feel we can score goals.

"We have to make sure that we start the game properly and the rest will take of itself," Dunne concluded.

Galway are only missing winger Aaron McDonagh due to an appendix problem, with Richard Fahy returning from a groin injury.

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH STATS

The two sides have been relatively evenly matched this season, with two wins for Shelbourne (0-1, 0-1), two wins for Galway (2-4, 2-0) and a draw (1-1).

Galway have been better at both ends of the pitch so far this season (47 goals scored to Shelbourne’s 46; 23 goals conceded to Shelbourne’s 30) but Shelbourne have one more win and three less losses this season.

BETTING

Shelbourne 7/5, Draw 23/10, Galway F.C. 13/8

PREDICTION

Shelbourne to win 1-0