Galway United undertake a difficult trip north tomorrow night to face second-placed Derry City after the international break.
They will then entertain Bohemians in Eamonn Deacy Park on the Bank Holiday Monday (Kick-off 7.45pm ). It will be United’s second consecutive home game to be aired to a national audience, this time on Virgin Media Television.
United boss John Caulfield has had an extra week to prepare. The away game in Derry has been foremost in his thoughts.
He said: “The next game is always the most important. Derry are overwhelming favourites, being at home. They are at the top challenging Shelbourne. They are seen as a team that could probably beat [Shamrock] Rovers. They have invested heavily over the last few years”.
“They went and got Patrick Hoban. They brought Daniel Kelly in. They’ve brought in two very attacking players and it’s shown already in the goals they’ve scored”.
United have been competitive this season, having only lost out by the narrowest of margins. They have the second-best defensive record in the league but also the second worst tally of goals for. It is something that Caulfield is mindful of.
“Every game this year for us has been very tight. We know that we have to go to Derry and play very well. We know that they will dominate possession at times in the match. At the same time with our gameplan, we believe we will get chances”.
“The one disappointing thing for us that in all the games that we haven’t won this year, we’ve had chances that we haven’t taken. That’s one area that we’ve tried to work on over the last week. But there is no doubt that we will have to defend very well up there because they are a top team”.
There have been personnel challenges. Chief among them have been an early injury to Garry Buckley and the failure of Wassim Aouachria to play any minutes thus far. There has been little improvement in the break.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had a number of long-term injuries. There are a number of guys that hopefully should be back within the next 3-4 weeks. The squad will be the same squad that played Shamrock Rovers”.
In the broader sense of the league, it appears as if a very compelling season at both ends of the table is developing. It is an assessment Caulfield agrees with and remains confident his side will remain competitive.
“I don’t think there is going to be a team that drifts away at the bottom. I think three teams will pull away [at the top] and open a gap after a while. I think a lot will depend on the tight games with the teams around you. They are the games that you need to get points out of”.
“There are 30 games to go. There’s a transfer window in July and teams will reshuffle then. I think it will be a league with a bunch of teams in a pack”.
