Galway United vs Derry City - prediction, team news, lineups

Looking implicit their enarthrosis towards the Irish Premier Division's relegation zone, Galway United volition look Derry City astatine Pearse Stadium connected Friday. 

The Tribesmen are looking for their archetypal triumph successful 4 games this week, portion the Candystripes are hoping to physique connected their triumph past clip out.

Match preview

John Caulfield's Galway are the nominal hosts but proceed to play distant from Eammon Deacy Park owed to the scheduled drainage works connected their home, groundsharing with Galway GAA nine astatine Pearse Stadium.

The concern whitethorn not beryllium ideal, but the Tribesmen were forced to invited Dundalk to Turner's Cross successful Cork for their astir caller clash - going connected to suffer 1-0 - and the reduced question this clip astir volition beryllium a relief.

That decision near Caulfield's broadside seventh successful the apical flight, wherever their tally of 21 points sees them conscionable 2 supra ninth-placed Sligo Rovers, who inhabit the division's relegation playoff spot.

To marque matters worse, Galway person present won conscionable 1 of their past 9 matches - a 4-1 triumph implicit the Bit O' Red connected May 16 - arsenic good arsenic mislaid 3 of their past 5 outings.

If the Tribesmen are to person immoderate crushed for optimism up of Friday's showdown, it should beryllium astir the information they person recovered the backmost of the nett successful 9 of their 10 astir caller outings, and Caulfield's men could gain a constituent if they tin stay composed astatine the back.

Meanwhile, Tiernan Lynch's Derry beryllium sixth with 29 points having been frustrated crossed their 21 matches truthful far, but they volition beryllium hopeful aft their triumph past Friday.

The Candystripes shockingly came from down to thrash European-hopefuls Bohemians 4-1 that day, fuelled by a brace from James Clarke, who could person had a hat-trick if not for a punishment miss precocious on.

Taking each 3 points against the Bohs brought an extremity to an eight-game winless tally for Lynch's side, who pb the league successful draws with 10.

Derry volition beryllium keen to amusement that their triumph was not a one-off, but aft securing conscionable 1 Premier Division triumph connected the roadworthy this season, it remains to beryllium seen whether they person genuinely turned a corner.

Seizing back-to-back wins this week could assistance the Candystripes to wrong six points of the apical three, though a instrumentality to losing ways whitethorn springiness their run a antithetic complexion considering that they are besides conscionable six supra Sligo.

Galway United League of Ireland Premier form:

Derry City League of Ireland Premier form:

Team News

Galway person a mostly acceptable squad to take from, though they volition erstwhile again beryllium without right-sided striker Dara McGuinness, who has been sidelined since October 2025.

In his absence, Stephen Walsh looks acceptable to pb the enactment erstwhile again, supported by Kristopher Twardek and Edward McCarthy from retired wide.

David Hurley is the antheral successful enactment to commencement successful the fig 10 relation down the striker, backed up by a treble pivot of Jimmy Keohane and Aaron Bolger.

As for Derry, they are lighter successful defence than perfect fixed the nine are missing goalkeeper Brian Maher owed to a breached wrist, portion centre-back Robert Slevin is simply a uncertainty with a knock.

Looking to capable the gaps connected Friday, Lynch could opt for a cardinal antiaircraft trio of Conor Barr, Stott and Brandon Fleming, with Barry Cotter and Ben Doherty astatine wing-back.

Galway United imaginable starting lineup:

Watts; Barratt, Williams, Brouder, Devitt; Keohane, Hurley; Twardek, Bolger, McCarthy; Walsh

Derry City imaginable starting lineup:

Beach; Barr, Stott, Fleming; Cotter, O'Reilly, Olayinka, Doherty; Santos, Clarke, Dummigan

We say: Galway United 1-2 Derry City

Galway person struggled truthful acold this season, and playing distant from their location crushed could adhd an further furniture of difficulty.

However, they person consistently scored successful matches, and could enactment up a combat - adjacent if they spell connected to lose.

For information investigation of the astir apt results, scorelines and much for this lucifer delight click here.