Both aiming to return to winning ways, Galway United and Drogheda United will square off at Eamonn Deacy Park on Thursday. The visitors remain eight points adrift of automatic safety at the bottom end of the League of Ireland Premier Division in the midst of a six-match winless run, while their hosts sit fifth after back-to-back defeats of their own. Galway United return to League of Ireland Premier Division action on Thursday with the aim of bouncing back from consecutive defeats in what has otherwise been an impressive first half to the season on their return to the top flight.
After topping the League of Ireland First Division last time around, Thursday's hosts enjoyed a pleasing start sitting in the top half on 27 points from their first 17 outings, having picked up seven victories across those games while only suffering four defeats, culminating in consecutive victories over Drogheda United and Dundalk. In a trip to their upcoming visitors in mid-May, John Caulfield 's side came from behind in dramatic fashion to prevail at United Park, as Maurice Nugent levelled the game at two goals apiece in the 91st minute before Stephen Walsh netted the winner deeper into injury time. The Crusties have been unable to extend that impressive run in two further attempts since, though, now heading into the reverse fixture on the back of a pair of losses in the top flight, firstly falling just short away at St Patrick's Athletic before most recently visiting Derry City on Friday and leav.