Galway United’s last game before the mid season SSE Airtricity League First Division break is a tricky away encounter against Cobh Ramblers tomorrow at St Colman’s Park, kick off 7.45pm.
It has been a disappointing stint for United, who have only registered one point from their past four games as Alan Murphy’s team endured another loss against Limerick at the Markets Field on Saturday evening.
Despite a satisfactory opening period display in which United took the lead courtesy of an opportunistic Shane Doherty finish, Limerick responded to dictate the agenda after the restart.
Ultimately it was a case of what might have been for the visitors, who were left to reflect on a subdued display after the restart.
“I thought in the first half we were by far the better team, I thought we were excellent,” manager Murphy stated. “We had some very good passages of play, and we should have been more than one up. Then we didn't come out at all, completely.
United’s cause was not helped by the injuries Conor Barry and his replacement, Iarfhlaith Davoren, suffered during the contest.
“It is a different set of scenarios this week, we have gone one up rather than try to chase a game,” Murphy added. “Unfortunately we have lost Conor Barry and Iarfhlaith Davoren at crucial points. That experience of putting your foot on the ball in the middle of the park, getting us playing.
“We didn't play at all in the second half. We were so disjointed, these young players and generally the whole team. It isn't a cohesive unit at the moment, we are lacking probably confidence for the young lads coming in. Lads are getting chances every week, some take it, some don't.
“Some then can't perform the following week, this is it and they had a lot more experience than we had. A lot of the teams we meet have a lot more experience than what we have. I suppose they have been together for a bit longer, we are only in the initial stages so it is what it is. We are very disappointed.”
Murphy is adamant that the youthful nature of the United players means inconsistency is inevitable. “You can put it down to huge inexperience,” Murphy says.
“I suppose when you look at it we have six or seven players out of 11, who don't know how to close out a game, they have never closed out a game really. So it isn't difficult to see why it is happening, the most difficult part is trying to fix it by showing the lads what should have happened in the second half.
“At one nil up they should be more confident rather than shrinking, that is what we did, we shrank in the second half.
“Our game plan went out the window, it was solid and very good in the first half. We capitulated, once the first goal went in the second goal came along straight after it. We were making mistakes, our shape went, when we had the ball we didn't hold on to it at all.”
With the transfer window set to re-open in July Murphy does not envisage too many additions being made to the United squad. “It is a work in progress in terms of the club, the underage system and giving guys a chance, trying to couple them with experienced players,” Murphy comments.
“Do I see a lot of additions coming in to try to make the team more solid? I don't see the way the budgets are and this project is, we are going to have to ride this out, give the guys the experience.
“I hope the guys got huge experience about what it is to be winning a League of Ireland game 1-0, and probably should be two or three, and totally falling apart. That is a huge experience, but you have to learn from it and move on is next.”
