Gaining in confidence and momentum, Galway United face another demanding SSE Airtricity League first division assignment at the Carlisle Grounds against Bray Wanderers tomorrow evening (7.30pm ).
Five victories in a row illustrates United's significant improvement since the mid season break. Ruairi Keating and Wilson Waweru struck goals in Friday's triumph over Cobh Ramblers as John Caulfield's team summoned a measured performance.
Maurice Nugent and Killian Brouder were assured in the centre of defence, while the midfield trio of captain Conor McCormack, Gary Boylan, and David Hurley continue to impress. Inevitably much focus surrounds the development of teenager Alex Murphy, who has started four of the last five fixtures at left back.
Murphy, 16, was called into the Republic of Ireland U18 home based training squad this week and is emerging as a real prospect in the domestic game.
Bray, under the guidance of Gary Cronin, demonstrated their ability at Eamonn Deacy Park in May when Gary Shaw, inevitably, pounced to score. Remarkably Shaw has netted 10 times against United during his career for Bray Wanderers, Longford Town, and Shamrock Rovers.
Caulfield is aware of Bray's potential. "If you look at over the last two seasons Bray have been challenging, they have established players," Caulfield says.
"A bit like ourselves we have turned a corner, and they have turned a corner. It should be a good game. From our point of view we have to be on our game and if you don't start well or you're off it in any way it is very difficult to get a result in this league."
The manner of the Cobh success pleased the United boss. "Obviously we have a bit of confidence at the moment," he added.
"The lads started the game well and overall we probably dominated the game. In the last four or five minutes Cobh had a chance or two, but Conor Kearns made a good save.
"As I keep saying new challenges are there and we have to be at that level all of the time."
Having stitched a five match winning sequence together Caulfield is optimistic about the remainder of the campaign. "I believe it is a habit no different than losing which can become a habit," Caulfield says.
"The most important thing is to take each game one at a time, that is what we have been doing. We have a very good bunch of players at the club."
Luke Dennison, Joe Gorman, and Thomas Oluwa were recently signed ensuring that there is plenty of depth in the United squad. "I suppose the key is to have guys on the bench as good as the guys on the pitch," Caulfield says.
"You need competition for places, when lads come into games they can keep the team performing at a high level. Luke Dennison came in as a goalkeeper, we knew Kevin Horgan was going to Spain so it was important to sign a good goalkeeper.
"We knew Stephen Christopher was anxious to move and with Ronan Manning and Francely Lomboto out due to long term injuries we brought Thomas Oluwa in.
"We've kept the numbers the same, the lads have hit the ground running in training. With a winning team it can be hard to get into the starting team, but they have added a bit of spice to training."
United were drawn away against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium in the first round of the FAI Cup with the fixture details to be confirmed shortly.
