Cobh Ramblers return to action on Friday evening hosting John Caulfield’s Galway side who are still chasing promotion. The Tribesmen are eight points behind leaders Cork City albeit with one game in hand, and will be looking to avoid a St Colman’s Park upset to have any chance at staying in touch of top spot. For the Rams it’s about staying ahead of bottom side Athlone, with Bray looking assured of seventh place at this stage.

Cobh come into the game on the back of last week’s 1-0 loss away to Treaty. Enda Curran’s second half strike proved the difference before Ramblers’ Harlain Mbayo was sent off late on. Galway’s last outing was a 3-2 FAI Cup Last-16 loss to Premier Division UCD.

Meetings between the two have very much gone the way of the Connacht men in recent times. Galway have six wins in a row over the Rams, with Cobh failing to score in any of those games. The most recent meeting was a 3-0 home win at Eamonn Deacy Park back in July, in Shane Keegan’s first away game at the Ramblers helm.

Cork duo David Hurley and Charlie Lyons have become key figures for Caulfield’s men this year and the ex-Ramblers pair will be looking to get one over their former side tonight. Another to keep an eye on is Stephen Walsh, the former defender whose transition to a striker has seen the former Longford man climb to the top of the league’s goalscoring charts with 14 goals in 25 appearances.

Neither side are hitting form in this late stage of the campaign and a win would be a big boost for both camps. The Rams follow this tie with a home game against Athlone and the Munster Cup final against Cork City, and a positive result would be a boost ahead of that pair of fixtures.

Harlain Mbayo is suspended for Cobh after his red card in Treaty while goalkeeper Sean Barron remains a long term injury absentee.

Kick-off in St Colman’s Park is at 19:45 on Friday, with the game being streamed live on LOITV here.