Another vital SSE Airticity League First division fixture is imminent for Galway United, who travel to Stradbrook tomorrow to face Cabinteely (7.45pm ).
Following last Friday’s bitterly disappointing 1-0 loss against Drogheda United, Alan Murphy’s charges will be anxious to produce a much-improved display.
It promises to be a busy weekend of action for United, who also are on the road again on Monday when playing Waterford FC in the EA Sports Cup at the RSC.
Having lost three League fixtures already at Eamonn Deacy Park, United need to start earning points quickly if a top four finish remains the objective.
Cabinteely have made a decent start to the campaign, registering notable wins over Shelbourne and Drogheda, so it will be a difficult challenge for the youthful Galwegian outfit.
Last Friday a lapse in concentration proved costly when Mark Doyle pounced to score the only goal of a grim game when Drogheda escaped from the west armed with the full complement of spoils.
“I think everyone is disappointed,” Murphy says of a third loss. “I think we were a long time in the dressing room because everyone cares. We want to try to fix it.
“There wasn't a performance really. At times there was a performance and there was pressure, but I don't think we ever threatened really at all. We conceded another sloppy goal.
“ They were nearly as toothless as we were at times. It was a very poor game to watch I'd imagine, but we have a lot of work to do.
“As I keep saying every week, this is going to be a long term project, it is not going to fix itself overnight. There will be ups and downs. Unfortunately we've had three home games of ups and downs, but with no results. That is where we are at.
“You had a lot of lads trying hard and a lot of effort, but I think we were really, really lacking in terms of the smarts of the game and the general formation and execution of what we wanted.”
The main frustration for Murphy was the concession of “such a weak goal".
“Again you look at the Shels' performance and we'd say we made mistakes and our confidence imploded if you want to call it that. Then giving away a goal like that kills confidence and the plan we have and the way we want to play.
“Then we become quite frantic and rushed because we want to perform in front of our home crowd. We want to win a game, we want to score goals, we deviate from the plan. They are going a million miles off the plan because they want to just get back into the game. That is a difficult thing.
“Drogheda won the game, they went back up the road with three points. That is all they care, that is all I would have cared.”
The spirited display of substitute Ivan Gamarra was one of the few positives United could take ahead of a tough task away to Cabinteely.
“I thought he was somewhat of a shining light when he came on,” Murphy says. “I thought he added an injection into the middle of the pitch and a little bit of a will to win, to press forward, to do the right things. Again for Ivan, it is a work in progress for him.”
With only one win secured from four fixtures, United need to add some points to the account quickly, so the Cabinteely clash is hugely important.
