Encouraged by a battling display which earned a draw away to champions Dundalk, Tommy Dunne's Galway United travel to the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday (5.45pm ) for another crucial clash with Bray Wanderers.
United produced a safe and solid performance when frustrating Dundalk at Oriel Park, and Dunne is hoping his team can be similarly resilient during the remaining matches of the campaign against Bray Wanderers and St Patrick's Athletic.
“It is another massive game in Bray,” Dunne says. “The extra day of rest gives us a great chance to get everybody fit and right. We have two big matches left. Only time will tell what will happen.
“I really do think the boys deserve a big support. Over the course of the season it has been tough on them. The premier division is a different level of football, and they need all the support they can get, so I hope people travel. Then we have the Pat’s game - they are two massive games.”
Dunne was delighted by the resilience United showed when dividing the spoils with Dundalk. “It was a big point for us to get,” Dunne says. “We knew it was going to be extremely difficult to get anything at Oriel Park. I don’t think too many teams have gone there and got too much.
“We knew we were going to be fighting, but Dundalk were trying to win the match too. It wasn’t a case of them taking their foot off in any way, shape, or form. We had to dig really deep on many occasions. There was fantastic defending, goalkeeping, and all round we were a threat ourselves.
“We created chances, we could have stolen the game with the chances we had. It was important that we were a threat, that was hugely important for us."
So disappointing when thumped by Limerick, United were much improved when testing Dundalk. Dunne wants United to conclude the campaign with a flourish as a gripping relegation battle featuring Limerick, Drogheda United, Sligo Rovers, Galway, Bray Wanderers, Longford Town, and Derry City continues.
“It was a big improvement on the Limerick game. We wanted to keep things as simple as we possibly could. The previous week we gifted Limerick chances. This week we had a bit more about us, and that bodes well. I’m hoping that will continue in the last two games - we will probably need to win them.”
•Galway United Supporters Trust is running buses to Saturday's premier division match at the Carlisle Grounds, leaving The Dail Bar, Cross Street, Galway at 1.15pm. A reduced fare of €5 return per person will apply on Saturday. To book contact Ronan Coleman 087-6972823 or Dominick Walsh 087-9163438.
