Galway United vs Shelbourne Preview

Friday’s Irish Premiership action sees seventh clash with fifth, as an exciting Galway United side play host to a Shelbourne team who boast an identical goal difference.

Both sides have been entertainers this season, with Galway winning, drawing and losing seven apiece, while Shelbourne have managed fewer defeats (6) but more draws (10). Both sides could jump up a position if they win here, and both will be hungry to close the gap to the top teams.

As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Key Statistics

• Galway’s Moses Dyer has been the leagues leading marksman this season, with his 10 goals topping the scoring charts.
• Both sides have scored 26 and conceded 25 apiece, although three points separate them in the table.
• Shelbourne are lacking form at the moment, winning just one of the last five league fixtures.
• However, their head to head with Galways is impressive - they have won 12 and drawn five of the 23 meetings between the two since 2014.

Galway United Preview

Galway United Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Evan Watts (GK); Greg Cunningham, Robert Slevin, Garry Buckley, Jeannot Esua; Cian Byrne, Vincent Borden; Daid Hurley, Patrick Hickey, Edward McCarthy; Stephen Walsh.

Though they sit lower than their rivals, Galway have been in a considerably better vein of form than Shelbourne, winning two and drawing two of their last five. The sole defeat in that run came away to Sligo Rovers last time out, where both sides were shown a red card.

Unfortunately for Galway, the card was shown to star striker and top scorer in the league Moses Dyer, who they will now be without for two games - none of Galways’ back-up forwards have found the net yet this season, so posing a threat to the Shelbourne defence could be tricky.

Fortunately, the rest of their squad is at full fitness. So while they may be significantly weakened in the striker department, creator in chief David Hurley and the dangerous midfield of Hickey, Borden and Byrne will still look to panic the Shelbourne defence.

Shelbourne Preview

Shelbourne Predicted Lineup (5-3-2): Conor Kearns (GK); Tyreke Wilson, Kameron Ledwidge, Paddy Barrett, Sean Gannon, Evan Caffrey; Jonathan Lunney, Mark Coyle, Harry Wood; Ademipo Odubeko, Alistair Coote.

While there is nothing wrong with fifth position at the halfway point, Shelbourne will not be content with where they sit. Afterall, they are the defending champions, and in lying 14 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, they have virtually given the title away.

Inconsistency has been their downfall - the last time they registered consecutive victories was back in February, and to win just seven of their 23 total games so far has been cause for concern for those at the club.

However, this game against Galway could be just the tonic they need. Their overwhelmingly positive head to head record with them will have the players right up for this one - they will be hungry to improve both the head to head, and their table position.

Galway United vs Shelbourne Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 21/04/2025: Shelbourne 2-2 Galway.
• 03/03/2025: Galway 1-1 Shelbourne.
• 20/09/2024: Galway 1-0 Shelbourne.
• 16/08/2024: Shelbourne p1-1 Galway.
• 28/06/2024: Shelbourne 2-0 Galway.

Galway United vs Shelbourne Betting Tip

Though Galway are the in-form side, the absence of Dyer cannot be understated - his goal scoring form has kept them comfortably clear of the bottom of the division, somewhere they would become all too familiar with should the marksman get injured.

That is why our experts have decided that the best tip for this fixture is to back Shelbourne to win. With odds of 2.54 on Highbet, a stake of £10 would return over £25 should the bet win.

Galway United vs Shelbourne Prediction

Galway United 0-1 Shelbourne

Without Moses Dyer, Galway’s attack is virtually toothless, and creating opportunities in this game will prove arduous.