There is little time for Galway United Women to bask in the glory of their historic retention of the Avenir Sports All-Island Cup.
After the jubilation of last Saturday, the cup champions return home on Saturday evening to take on Peamount United in another crucial clash.
Last year’s champions have always proved a sticky wicket for Galway. They drew 0-0 in Dublin earlier in the season in a cagey encounter.
The home team did enjoy a 3-0 win last season in their penultimate game, but the Peas had the title already sewn up by that stage.
The clubs are deadlocked on 22 points, but Phil Trill’s team have three games in hand. As such, they are the only ones with any realistic prospect of reigning in Athlone Town and Shels who have pulled away from the pack.
A lot will need to go right in this mammoth task, but United have just reminded themselves and the country of their pedigree.
Their first advantage is that they have three home games in a row starting on Saturday. If they can overcome a tricky Peamount side, they would have to fancy their chances against Sligo and Treaty. This is despite difficult encounters with the former and the latter’s improvement this season.
Secondly, they should enter this contest brimming with confidence after Saturday.
Those heroics should ensure a vocal home support there to salute their returning heroes, a factor that could help to carry them over the line.
Lastly, despite a deficit of 12 points, with three games in hand, things remain in their own hands. United will have a say one way or another as they entertain the other contenders, Athlone and Shels, in Eamonn Deacy Park at the back end of the season.
The scale of the task should not be overestimated and claiming silverware means United have already enjoyed a successful season. Phil Trill always emphasises progression and will therefore have as his squad’s first target to surpass the fourth-place finish and 38 points accumulated last season.
It shouldn’t be forgotten however that this is a team that went unbeaten in their first 10 games of the season. If they can come close to replicating that imperious form, anything is possible.
Supporters will be willing them on to have a go. They are a team and a group of characters that have brought joy and inspiration in abundance. They belong in competition at the very top and can continue on that journey with another positive performance on Saturday.
