Galway United will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in the League of Ireland Premier Division to nine matches when they welcome basement side Dundalk to Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.
The home side are fourth in the table, 10 points behind the leaders Shelbourne with two games in hand, while Dundalk are bottom, picking up just 12 points from their 16 league games this term.
Match preview
Galway United are back in the League of Ireland Premier Division for the first time since 2017 following their success in the First Division last term.
John Caulfield's side have been impressive this season, boasting a record of six wins, six draws and four defeats from their 16 matches to collect 24 points, which has left them in fourth position, and they will enter this game off the back of a 3-2 success at Drogheda United.
The Galway-based outfit - unbeaten in their last eight - are only four points behind third-placed Shamrock Rovers with two games in hand, while they are 10 points off the leaders Shelbourne, who have also played two games more.
United have the second-best away record in the division this season, picking up 15 points from their eight matches, but they have the second-worst home record, only securing nine points from eight games.
The hosts recorded a 2-0 victory in the reverse match between the two sides earlier this season, but Dundalk were 4-3 winners on their last visit to Eamonn Deacy Park in October 2017.
Dundalk will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers, which proved to be just their second win in the League of Ireland Premier Division this season.
The Lilywhites are the second-most successful side in the history of the top division, winning the title on 14 occasions, with only Shamrock Rovers (21) triumphing more times.
Noel King recently stepped down as head coach of Dundalk for medical reasons, less than a month after he took the job, with Liam Burns currently in charge on a temporary basis.
The one-goal success over Shamrock Rovers last time out would certainly have boosted confidence in the camp, but they are still bottom of the division, boasting only 12 points from 16 matches.
Dundalk are already six points behind eighth-placed Sligo Rovers, and it is shaping up to be a big end to the month, as they will also host Derry City before the start of June.
Team News
Galway United will be without the services of Colm Horgan due to a knee injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape heading into Friday's clash with Dundalk.
Stephen Walsh is the team's leading goalscorer this season with three, and he will again operate in the final third of the field with support from David Hurley in the number 10 position.
Head coach Caulfield could name an unchanged side here, with Ed McCarthy, who has two goals to his name this season, also retaining his spot in an attacking area.
As for Dundalk, Scott High, Dara Keane, Robbie Mahon and Ciaran McGuckin will miss the contest due to fitness problems.
Meanwhile, the visitors will again be without the services of George Shelvey through suspension, with the goalkeeper handed a 10-game ban earlier this month following his red card against Drogheda United.
Interim head coach Burns is likely to name an unchanged side from the clash against Shamrock Rovers, with James Gullan operating in the final third of the field.
Galway United possible starting lineup:
Clarke; Esua, Slevin, Brouder, Kazeem; Hickey, McCormack; O'Sullivan, Hurley, McCarthy; Walsh
Dundalk possible starting lineup:
Munro; Davies, Johnson, Boyle, Animasahun, Mountney; Horgan, Doyle, Bradshaw; Elliott, Gullan
We say: Galway United 1-1 Dundalk
There has not been a draw in the last seven top-flight meetings between these two sides, and Galway United will enter the match in the better form, but they have only won two of their eight league matches at home this season, and we are backing the points to be shared on Friday night.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
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