Encouraged following a convincing win over first division table-toppers UCD, Shane Keegan’s Galway United travel to Stradbrook for a clash against Cabinteely on Sunday (3pm ).
It is an important game for Keegan’s outfit, who delivered when it counted by beating the students courtesy of splendid goals from Eoin McCormack and captain Ryan Connolly. Ultimately United’s most complete display of the campaign so far was rewarded with three vital points and the Tribesmen will be hoping for a similar outcome this weekend.
Keegan was delighted how United controlled the contest.
“It is the first time that we have gone 90 minutes at it," Keegan said. "There was a 15 minute period where we had to soak up a bit of pressure in the second half, but it is definitely the first time this season we have gone at it at a top, top level. We needed it and it was a really important game.
“Over the course of the week you were challenging every single player to try to give their peak performance, and you probably got eight out of the 11 who had their best game of the season. When you get a scenario like that you are pretty much guaranteed to come out on the winning team.”
With Alex Byrne, Alan Murphy, and Connolly all impressing in the centre of the park and McCormack and Danny Furlong threatening in attack, Keegan was satisfied with United’s approach.
“I couldn't praise them enough in how much they carried out the instructions to the letter of the law, they really did. I thought we had some superb individual performances.
“It is amazing that in a game we dominated as much as we did that we needed two crackers to win it. We scored two crackers and missed maybe five sitters. It was a nagging doubt when you are 20 or 25 minutes into the second half and it is still only one nil.”
Following the bitterly disappointing defeat to Finn Harps, Keegan believed was a little bit of an overreaction.
“It seemed like an awful lot of people who weren't there had opinions without having seen it. In the previous 270 minutes against Athlone, Cobh, and Finn Harps, we had conceded two shots on target and had 23.
“So as far as we were concerned we were in fantastic form. We were absolutely crap against Shelbourne and we had a lock-in at the dressing room and I asked for a massive, massive response after Shelbourne. I got it and I got it in Finn Harps as well, but it was a freak scenario where we missed four fantastic chances and they scored with their first shot on target.
“I do think there was an overreaction and to be honest I'm glad there was because it made its way back to us. The players in that dressing room knew they were being doubted, and maybe it was exactly what we needed to really kick us into life."
•Galway United Friends Co-op is running a bus to Stradbrook on Sunday, leaving Prospect Hill at 11am and picking up along the Dublin Road in Galway; Maldron Hotel, Oranmore; and motorway exits. To book contact Ronan Coleman 087-6972823, or Dominick Walsh 087-9163438.
