An intriguing SSE Airtricity League first division season continues with Galway United travelling to Lissywollen tomorrow for a vital encounter against Athlone Town (7.45pm ).
Friday's top of the table clash with Cork City in front of 6,393 spectators at an electric Turners Cross eventually culminated in a scoreless draw. There was no shortage of drama either as United had a strong penalty claim waved away early on before Ed McCarthy was controversially red carded in the opening quarter.
"We went with a very attacking team, we knew all week that there was going to be a full house down there, it was like the old days," United manager John Caulfield says.
"The atmosphere was incredible. Even when you arrived at the ground. We spoke all week about having composure, settling in, making sure we were ready to play from the start. With the atmosphere there was going to be a lot of hostility. You need to be ready for that.
"The lads, to be fair, we couldn't have wished it any better from the way we started. We totally controlled the game, we were on the front foot, [Ally] Gilchrist made a last ditch challenge after only 90 seconds. Then we had the incident with the penalty kick where it looked a penalty kick afterwards when we saw it - that was waved play on.
"Max Hemmings was taken out in the box, and obviously David Harrington made a very good save from Rob Manley. We were so dominant you are just thinking can we get the opening goal. Then on 14 minutes Ed McCarthy trips [Cian] Bargary on the half way line, yellow card everyone expects, and the referee gives a red card. It changed the whole course of the game."
Ultimately Caulfield was forced into a reshuffle. "With 10 men we have to change our tactics," he adds. "Diego Portilla came in at centre back, he really tightened up the ship at the back. Obviously then they dominated possession even though we were very dangerous on the break. It just changed it from being an 11 v 11 game. That is probably what is most frustrating because we had started the game so well. We had prepared all week, we felt we could win the match.
"The lads did brilliantly, their concentration levels were fantastic. We came away with a point, but from the outset going down there and the way we started, we had gone for the three points. So it was frustrating the controversial decision, but it is over. We will move on to Athlone on Friday night."
It remains a particularly exciting title race with Caulfield adamant about United's considerable potential as a club. "I think we have a very good group," he says. "We brought in a few new lads to freshen it up which has been good. There is a lot of competition. It is great to be competing at the top. We are trying to get the number one spot. The challenge is there with Cork being favourites, but we have proven this season that the games this season the games between us have been very tight.
"They have to come to us, but at the same time it is making sure that we keep ourselves in that position. Athlone had a fantastic result on Saturday, to win 3-1 away to Longford. They have also brought some new players into their team. There is also an element that they have nothing to lose. We must go to Athlone to make sure we perform like we did last Friday night. If you do that you win the match, but at the same time if you don't perform well, we have found that in the past in Athlone we have struggled. It is up to us to make sure we can carry our own form into Friday night."
That every match counts for so much is a clear sign United are relevant once again. "It is not probably good for the heart, but it is where you want to be competing at the top," Caulfield says.
"I have been fortunate in my career that is where every week has been important when I was manager in Cork for years. It is brilliant to be in charge of Galway United. That is where you want to be challenging at the top, every week the games mean something. Not to be in mid table or the bottom half of the table where games don't mean anything. You want to be at the top trying to challenge for trophies. Thankfully that is what we are doing."
The next three months will be revealing. "We are in the run-in with 10 games to go," Caulfield adds. "Every game is crucial. I said after the game on Friday night that funny things happen in the run-in. Nerves become a bigger part of the run-in, anything can happen.
"I have seen over many years that the run-in causes shock results and we must make sure that we don't look ahead, that we keep our focus. It is an exciting time for the supporters. We brought a big crowd to Cork, it is fantastic Galway United bringing fantastic support down to Cork. We will go to Athlone on Friday night, it is a nearer trip so hopefully we will have a massive following with us.
"It really means something to the players, they are always remarking about it, the people that travel to our games. We want that. The biggest game of the season for us now is Friday night in Athlone."
