Eircom League - St. Patricks v Galway

It must be weird to back last placed team against 2nd placed team this late in the season, but i think Galway has some chances today, at least to take a point.

Motivation factor isn't key here, as Saints need points to stay 2nd and get Euro and Setanta qualifications (Bohs are too far away, 10 points, and playing great). Galway is last, but only four points behind first safe team - Harps. And with Harps and UCD playing each other, Galway could profit this round.

Quality is undoubtly on home side, home advantage as well, but team news are the reason why i prefer Galway here.

St. Patricks will play today without seven players, while few others are questionable. Dessie Byrne, Gary Dempsey, John Murphy, Joe O'Cearuill, Gary O'Neill, Dave Rogers and Bobby Ryan are all injured. Ryan is first goalie, Bynre, Dempsey and O'Neill are all regular players, O'Cearuill also played in most of the Saints games. Along with them Paisley and Fahey are questionable, and they are important players. Partridge is coming back after a long period of injury and it's question can he play whole 90'.

I think that this team news would make big problems even to teams like Barcelona or Chelsea, so St. Patricks shouldn't be exception either. They also played Setanta clash in mid-week against Linfield which was tough match and players should be tired.

Galway today will miss regular midfielder O'Shea, but on his place they will have Lester who is back after injury. Also out is Ollie Fenn. Don't understand me wrong, Pats are still big favorites here, but with all this team news, mid week match and importance that this game has for Galway i wouldn't think it will be easy home win. Tradition shows that Galway is usually tough opponent for Pats, they didn't beat them with more then one goal difference in last two seasons. This season games ended tight:

2008-05-30 Galway 2-2 St. Pats

2008-03-21 St. Pats 1-0 Galway

Galway currently isn't in best form, but i can see them doing surprise here. In fact they are almost mid-table team when it comes to away games (and last season they also played better away then home). In eg. they've beaten Harps and Bray away, losing to Cork, Drogs and Bohs with only one goal difference, drawing in Derry... I just can't skip this great odds on fair line. My prediction is draw or minimal home win, but i will also try with totally symbolic stake AW @11.00

Pick : Galway +1,25
Odds : 2.24
Stake : 6 / 10
Bookmaker : Pinnacle
Match Result : Postponed
Tipster Personal Link/Sponsor: http://scythe.blogabet.com/

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