It might not have the billing some would have hoped for, even up to a week ago, but there is plenty of spice surrounding the Connacht Derby tomorrow night.
Galway United can assert their dominance over their Connacht rivals, end their European dreams, and sustain their own until the final game with a win.
United are down but not out after a rip-roaring contest in Inchicore last Friday. They battled brilliantly but ultimately were undone by opponents of the very highest quality in St Patrick’s Athletic.
It all means that United will need big results and favours to claim a top four berth. Shels cannot be caught. Catching Derry would mean fourth would be useless in terms of European progression. Even in a season as unpredictable as this, Shamrock Rovers would be expected to pick up a point in their final two games.
The likeliest avenue would be for a red-hot St Pat’s to fail to beat either Derry or Sligo, and for United to get the maximum from Sligo and Bohs. It is far from inconceivable, and the aim must be to keep Stephen Kenny’s side honest. The arithmetic for Sligo is straightforward, beat United and Pat's and hope for a favour from Derry.
It is worth pandering to the permutations to remind the United faithful that despite the flat feeling at full-time last Friday, United go into their last home game with plenty to play for.
Moreover, the over-riding emotion at that point was pride, as witnessed in the ovation that John Caulfield and his troops got in the corner of a packed ground. It was as passionate an away support for a regular season game that backed United since Belfield in 2008. The Maroon Army will pick themselves up for the visit of Sligo.
John Caulfield shuffled his pack last Friday and as such there is plenty to ponder about what side will take the field on Friday. A treble substitution at half-time raises further questions. The third quarter seemed to be targeted by management, and United were indeed excellent in it.
Ed McCarthy’s superb strike underscored an accomplished performance, and he will be pressing for inclusion from the off. The curveball of starting Francely Lomboto up top caused Pat's plenty of problems and it will be interesting to see if the experiment continues.
There were calls at the back too, with Colm Horgan and Bobby Burns picked at full-back with a nod to the pace possessed by the wingers they would face. Simon Power will pose similar problems on the wing this week also.
Neither did their chances of another vote of confidence any harm. However, Jeannot Esua is a difficult player to leave out, and Regan Donelon made a welcome return, his cultured left foot was a vital attacking outlet in the dying embers.
The midfield has been settled, with Conor McCormack supported by Americans Vince Borden and Patrick Hickey. However, David Hurley has been making plenty of impact from the bench. There will be another tough battle with English pair Connor Malley and Ellis Chapman in midfield tomorrow night.
There was a great moment late on last week when Cillian Tollet was thrown into the white heat of battle in as big a league game as United have played in 30 years. The former Oughterard AFC player showed flashes of a talent that will be monitored keenly.
Another uplifting moment came during the week when Brendan Clarke was recognised by his peers as the best goalkeeper in the league, becoming United’s only representative on the PFAI Premier Division team of the year. It is an incredible accolade for Clarke whose impact on the team can be scarcely understated. He was brilliant again when returning to his spiritual football home of Richmond Park.
He may need to be again tomorrow, but he will need some help from his attackers. Remarkably, United have failed to score against Sligo this season. Simply stated, they will need to right this to keep this remarkable journey going.
