Galway United on the road for cup quarter-final with Drogheda United
Tribesmen looking to advance to the last four for second time in four seasons, and 15th time in club’s history
Galway United will be hoping to make the last four of the FAI Cup for the second time in four years this evening when they head to the Louth-Meath border to take on an out-of-sorts Drogheda United (7.45pm).
It is the first time since the introduction of the First Division for the 1985/86 season that all eight quarter-finalists are Premier Division clubs, and in a quirk of the draw, the bottom four in the top-flight table have been drawn against each other: basement side Sligo Rovers are away to Waterford (8th), with United (7th) taking on a Drogheda side currently occupying the play-off spot in 9th.
The other two quarter-finals are being televised, with St Patrick's Athletic (2nd) hosting Bohemians (3rd) on Saturday; while Dundalk (4th) travel to Derry City (6th) on Sunday.
As for the Tribesmen, John Caulfield's side are on an impressive eight-match unbeaten run, a run which was maintained thanks to Jimmy Keohane's late equaliser against Shelbourne last Friday on a night when Drogheda conceded a late goal of their own to suffer a sickening derby day defeat to Dundalk.
That made it back-to-back defeats in the league for Kevin Doherty's side, but before that there was a scoreless draw at Eamonn Deacy Park.
David Hurley missed a penalty in that game, just as he did in the 1-0 defeat to the Drogs in Eamonn Deacy Park back on the opening night of the season, but goals form Francely Lomboto, Kris Twardek, and Axel Piesold saw United come from 2-0 down to claim a 3-2 win at Sullivan & Lambe Park in April.
Piesold is an injury doubt for Friday night, as are Mattie Wolfe and Gianfranco Facchineri; while there was a big blow with the confirmation that Killian Brouder's season is over due to an ankle injury.
"The cup is the cup, it is a 50/50 game. There is nothing between the teams, it will be a tight game, you just have to make sure you turn up and play your best and if you do, you have a chance," Caulfield said after last Friday;s draw with Shels.
"It is a great ground, a tight pitch, and you have to defend set-pieces well and attack your own. We have an honest team, if they work hard, you can see with our supporters, they love that.
"If you give everything on the day but are not good enough, that happens, but we have got some good results, there are a lot of positive with the team, they are training hard, and they never give up.
"You have to admire pulling that out at the end," he said of last Friday's late equaliser. At the start of the season we were guilty of giving away late goals. When you get a decision like that against you [the Shelbourne penalty], it can deflate you, but the lads gave everything and thankfully we got the equaliser, which was no more than we deserved," he said.
Supporters buses to the game in Drogheda will depart from McGinns in Woodquay at 3pm, picking up along the route. Seats can be booked by contacting Kian Kenny at 087 9404349, or Ronan Coleman at 087 6972823.