It is set to be one of the biggest matches of the season in the First Division at the Cross this weekend! Cork City, the current league leaders, welcome Galway United, currently in second, with the two teams separated by just one point and both side
It is set to be one of the biggest matches of the season in the First Division at the Cross this weekend!
Cork City, the current league leaders, welcome Galway United, currently in second, with the two teams separated by just one point and both sides aiming for a big victory in their quest for promotion to the Premier Division.
The fixture will take place this Friday night with kick-off at 7.45pm and the match available to purchase on LOITV for just €5 here: https://www.loitv.ie/en-int/playerpage/1429715
Ahead of the match, we've had a look at some of the statistics and some of the players to watch thanks to the statistics collected by Wyscout.
The Key Average Statistics - 2022 season
Cork City
Average - 2022 First Division
Goals - 2.03
xG - 1.59
Shots / on target - 12.88/37.2%
Passes / accurate - 304.97/73.7%
Possession - 49.2%
Duels / won - 242.79/48.1%
Galway United
Average - 2022 First Division
Goals - 1.54
xG - 1.5
Shots / on target - 12.57/34.5%
Passes / accurate - 295.43/70.3%
Possession - 47.38%
Duels / won - 243.26/48.9%
Cork City - Key Player
Ruairi Keating - Forward
Keating will be out to get one over his old club Galway United on Friday after his move to Turners Cross ahead of the 2022 season. Keating returned from England where he had been playing with Torquay United in the National League in 2021 to sign for Galway.
An impressive return followed after he scored 10 goals for John Caulfield's side as they lost out on the play-offs in their bid for promotion last year. Since his move to Cork, Keating has continued his impressive form, scoring eight goals already this season. Bolstered by the signing of Louis Britton recently as well, Cork have an impressive front-line to count on.
Ruairi Keating - Average Stats
Minutes Played - 1411
Matches played - 18
Goals - 8
Goals per match - 0.4
Yellow cards - 4
Shots per match - 2.55
Aerial Duels per match - 10.6
Galway United - Key Player
Stephen Walsh - Forward
Converted to a striker after spending much of his career as a defender, Stephen Walsh has enjoyed a prolific season for the Tribesmen.
His 12 goals this season is a prolific return for a player whose previous highest amount of goals in one season was for Mervue United in 2013 where he scored seven.
After time spent in the non-league, Walsh returned to League of Ireland in 2021 and now John Caulfield has switched him to a forward, he has became the key player for the league chasers.
Stephen Walsh - Average Stats
Minutes Played - 1480
Matches Played - 20
Goals - 12
Goals per match - 0.6
Yellow Cards - 5
Shots per match - 1.9
Aerial Duels per match - 11.73
