Having pocketed a significant bounty from Monday’s sell-out friendly with a Liverpool XI, Galway United return to competitive action when making the trip to Dalymount Park tomorrow for a clash with Bohemians.
The Gypsies have been surprisingly inconsistent recently, and last Sunday’s defeat against cross-town foes Shamrock Rovers was an especially worrying result for Pat Fenlon’s side.
Bohemians will demand a positive response when Galway visit Phibsboro, but the Dubliners are not performing with the ruthless efficiency that earned them silverware in the past two seasons.
Galway’s last trip to the spiritual home of Irish football will be remembered for Karl Sheppard’s smashing contribution and a similarly energetic display is craved.
Though Galway eked out a win in the friendly with Liverpool, Rhys Meynell, who has served the team capably in several positions, insisted that it is the Bohemians’ encounter which truly matters.
"We are looking forward to the Bohemians’ game. We had a game against a Liverpool XI and we won it, but the Bohemians’ game is way more important. Our league form at the minute is poor. We played well against Liverpool and if we take that level of performance into Friday's game, we should be okay and it should be a good game.”
Galway were unfortunate not to take more than a point from the Terryland tussles with Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk, but the second-half display last Friday when Sporting Fingal were in town lacked the required urgency.
The challenge now is to stitch a run of results together again and Meynell insists that Galway are trying to play in the correct manner.
"I am enjoying it here in Ireland, I have settled in really quickly. I moved in with a few lads at the start and that helped us all settle down. I think that we are playing good football even though our form is poor at the moment. I think there is a good standard in this league and that there are a lot of good players who could easily acquit themselves well over the water.
“Some of the lads opt not to and I don't know why. Maybe it is too big a challenge, but some of the lads in the top teams here are really good footballers. Anybody from their first XI could easily make it in England or Scotland. Some of them obviously like the lifestyle here and opt not to go.”
Meynell continues to deliver with solid conviction for Galway and believes the west is an ideal place to further his football education under Sean Connor and Gareth Gorman’s guidance.
“I would like to get back over to the football league in England, but I am in no rush. I am enjoying my football here and will stay as long as this club wants me.
“I think that Galway is a good place to develop. I am only 21 and I have a good few years learning in me still. I think that I can learn off the gaffer and the coaches here.”
Meynell will be keen to demonstrate that a young Galway outfit can take scalps at this level in the capital again.
•Galway United Supporters Trust will be running a bus to Friday evening’s premier division match at Dalymount Park, departing from the Marriott Hotel, Headford Road, at 4pm. To book a seat contact Ronan 087-6972823.
GUST thanks all our supporters who helped out with ticket sales and match day arrangements for Tuesday evening’s Liverpool friendly. Anyone with a ticket stub from the match can get €10 entry to the next home game against Drogheda United on Friday August 20.
