A critical SSE Airtricity League premier division weekend beckons for Galway United with two vital matches against Bohemians and Drogheda United.
On Friday evening Galway travel to Dalymount Park, the spiritual home of Irish football, for a game with Bohemians, and on Monday Drogheda United visit Eamonn Deacy Park. Derry City's four-goal success over United at the Corribside venue was a worrying result, but manager Tommy Dunne is hoping his team can respond in the capital.
Mark Timlin's excellence guided the Candystripes to victory over Galway, who had played three demanding fixtures in the space of seven days. “It was at the end of a tough week,” Dunne said. “I thought the first half was scrappy from both sides. It wasn’t really a good game, but in saying that we were well in the match, but our decision making was poor.
“The first goal was going to be key. I felt we needed to pick up the first goal. When we didn’t, it was always going to be an uphill battle. Little mistakes then here and there suddenly you are three goals down. It was basic stuff, decision making can cost you in the game.”
Now the trip to Phibsboro has assumed added significance for Galway, who have defeated the Gypsies in both the league and EA Sports Cup in the west. However, the Gypsies did exploit the Tribesmen's set piece hesitancy when claiming a win over United in March at Dalymount.
“It hasn’t changed anything in so much as we know we are in a scrap. We need to get ourselves focused, up and ready to get going again.”
Throughout the campaign United have been ravaged by injuries, but Dunne is hopeful left back Marc Ludden will be ready for the Bohemians clash. There is an outside chance midfielder Ryan Connolly might return for the Drogheda encounter following an ankle complaint.
“We are struggling with bodies, we are having to over extend people and that is going to cause you problems," Dunne admitted. " One of the aspects for us that we are happy enough with is that we got out of the game without picking up any injuries. If we can get a couple of bodies back, we can go from there. It has been tough from an injury point of view, but we are not looking to make excuses.
"We didn’t do things right in the second half. When Derry got opportunities they took them well. I’m hoping that Marc Ludden will be back available for Friday, Conor Barry too. Ryan Connolly isn’t that far off.”
Though the July transfer window has closed, United can still sign out of contract players to bolster the squad ahead of the closing two months of the season. Dunne is currently assessing his options. “We aren’t going to bring a player in just for the sake of bringing one in,” Dunne revealed. “We need somebody who is going to improve the group. We are looking over the next week or so. If you are looking - out of work professionals are all that is available to us at the moment. You need to be careful when you are looking.”
Galway United Supporters' Trust is running a bus to Friday's Airtricity League premier division match against Bohemians at Dalymount Park, leaving The Dail Bar, Cross Street, Galway, at 4pm. Seats can be booked by contacting Dominick Walsh 087-9163438 or Ronan Coleman 087-6972823.
Dunne hopeful injured players will
be back for tough weekend's action
