Goalkeeper/defence
BARRING INJURY, Caoimhín Kelleher will start again after his crucial penalty save helped Ireland earn three points against Finland.
Mark Travers and Max O’Leary will be held in reserve, although both are having decent seasons at club level, with the former appearing three times in the Premier League for Bournemouth recently and the latter lining out regularly for Bristol City in the Championship.
The backline likely won’t see too many changes.
Dara O’Shea was only deemed fit enough to come off the bench against England, but his more defence-minded instincts may earn him a start at Matt Doherty’s expense if he is physically ready.
The centre-back pairing of Nathan Collins and Liam Scales kept a clean sheet against Finland and so, are unlikely to be dropped.
The only viable alternative would be moving Scales to left-back and playing O’Shea centrally. However, O’Dowda did well enough on Thursday, so it would be no surprise if the 29-year-old retained his starting spot.
The inexperienced pair of Jake O’Brien and Mark McGuinness will probably be on the bench. Ryan Manning — despite five Premier League appearances with Southampton this season — might have to settle for a substitute appearance, as was the case against the Finnish side.
Midfield
The midfield of Josh Cullen and Jason Knight were okay without being outstanding on Thursday.
The game became very open and Ireland were sometimes too easy to play through.
England are likely to punish the Boys in Green in similar scenarios, so the central area of the pitch will need to be tighter.
Heimir Hallgrímsson also must make one change in this area, with Knight suspended.
It would be a big ask for Andy Moran, who has only one senior cap, to come in. So Jayson Molumby seems the most straightforward call. He started the last game versus England, but Hallgrímsson has invariably preferred Knight, who has started all four matches since that opening Nations League encounter.
Sammie Szmodics will surely be retained in the number 10/second striker role. The Ipswich star was unlucky not to score and was one of the biggest positives from the game at the Aviva the other night.
That means the likes of Finn Azaz and Troy Parrott will probably have to show more patience.
Attack
Brighton starlet Evan Ferguson is expected to retain his place after scoring the winner against Finland.
The 20-year-old has suffered from lack of game time at club level. He has started just once in the Premier League this season.
But Ferguson should still have enough energy to play at least an hour at Wembley.
West Brom’s Mikey Johnston, who created the only goal with a superb hanging cross, has probably done enough to stay in the team.
The other side will depend on the fitness of Festy Ebosele after the Watford loanee limped off in the 76th minute on his full international debut.
The Wexford native has not been ruled out at the time of writing, but the most obvious like-for-like replacement is Kasey McAteer, who has made five substitute appearances for Leicester City in the Premier League this season.
If Ebosele is injured and Hallgrímsson wants to adopt a more defensive approach against one of the best sides in the world, he could play Mikey Johnston on the right and pick Manning — predominantly a wing-back at Southampton — on the left.
Meanwhile, Stoke loanee Tom Cannon did not start the last game and will likely be sprung from the bench again in the second half, especially if his team need a goal.
Possible team: Kelleher; O’Shea, Collins, Scales, O’Dowda; Johnston, Cullen, Molumby, Ebosele; Szmodics, Ferguson.
Ireland squad:
Goalkeepers: Caoimhin Kelleher (Liverpool), Mark Travers (AFC Bournemouth), Max O’Leary (Bristol City)
Defenders: Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Mark McGuinness (Luton Town), Liam Scales (Celtic), Callum O’Dowda (Cardiff City), Matt Doherty (Wolves), Jake O’Brien (Everton), Ryan Manning (Southampton).
Midfielders: Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion), Finn Azaz (Middlesbrough), Andy Moran (Stoke City, on loan from Brighton and Hove Albion).
Forwards: Evan Ferguson (Brighton and Hove Albion), Tom Cannon (Stoke City, on loan from Leicester City), Troy Parrott (AZ Alkmaar), Festy Ebosele (Watford, on loan from Udinese), Kasey McAteer (Leicester City), Sammie Szmodics (Ipswich Town), Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).
Absolutely terrible decision that has to be a red card , high speed neck high challenge to stop a goal scoring opportunity. Very generous refereeing for Galway in that first half
Coen was a lucky boy
Terrible decision!
That was one seriously dangerous challenge and he should have walked . The short conversation with linesman had me convinced he was gone.
Hurling > football
Lower viewing figures, less participating counties…..
Hoping for a Galway win, Kilkenny will shade it no doubt!!
So the location of the match is at Old Trafford?
When did Mick McCarthy lose his lovely quiff & when did he start managing Galway ?
Boring. Kilkenny too good again. Hurling becoming a joke.
Galway resorting to Dublin tactics and being facilitated by ref
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
You mean Kilkenny tactics?
Big time bottlers are Galway, not helped by some terrible refereeing
Galway can’t complain about refereeing, got 2 points from soft overcarrying decisions and should have had 14 men for the whole 2nd half
OMG Stick Wars !!
It was disgusting to see half of the Kilkenny crowd leave before the cup was presented, talk about arrogance.
Galway could have won it but the Cats ‘re the best for a reason, great second half display by them.
Maybe next year Galway…
Well done, Galway. A few stats! Galway all Ireland Intermediate champs, All Ireland Minor Champs, and 2nd best Senior team in the country…and the Ladies to come yet…Not bad, I suggest…
Keep it going, Galway.
Great Kilkenny team, no argument. But they will be stopped sometime!!
How can the 42 not get the full time score correct?
Great Galway display, against an indisputable set of Kilkenny legends. No doubt about that. But just remember a little stat (to the knockers!). Galway= all Ireland Intermediate champs, All Ireland Minor Champs and 2nd best Seniors in the country and all for 2015. And the Ladies Camogie has to come yet in the all Ireland… Not bad stats? So, Galway, well done, a credit to yourselves. And under great leadership.
Man of the stadium: Messi
Jonny Ryan a legend