After losing the first of three Terryland Park premier league matches on the spin, Galway United will hope to register some points over a crucial weekend.
Dundalk were crafty enough to take advantage of Galway’s kindness on Monday, ensuring the upcoming encounters with Drogheda United and St Patrick’s Athletic carry significant importance.
The stylish manner in which Galway defeated the standard bearers Bohemians at Dalymount Park last Friday filled the squad with optimism, but Dundalk had plenty of incentive following a loss against Sporting Fingal, and they prevailed.
Sean Connor offered a frank assessment about his young side which had demonstrated considerable promise in the capital before failing to fire on home turf.
"It was a big come down, it was lacklustre. We lacked the spark and energy that we had shown in other games. We didn't really create any clearcut chances.
"It is frustrating and it would be easy to give out about the players, but the players have been magnificent. I think we have played something like six games in 22 days. We have a very small squad. We had Jamie McKenzie playing after being out for a week with tonsillitis, and there is no way he should have played, while we were still missing Thomas Heary. Derek O'Brien was sick, and he was lucky to be on the pitch towards the end.
Now Galway host a physical Drogheda outfit that will pose a threat from set plays, and Connor wants his team to summon an enthusiastic response.
"I see every game as a game that can be won. If you go to Dalymount Park and perform the way we did, it is possible. The squad is really tight, and if you take a player of Stephen O'Donnell's calibre out of any squad, you are going to miss him.
"Certainly the lack of numbers we have in the squad is a factor. Unfortunately players who probably wouldn't play if we had a deeper squad, have to play. We shot ourselves in the foot. Dundalk maybe deserved the three points, but they didn't open us up with brilliant football, they did it with the basics and playing the percentages.
Connor sais he was disappointed because United had gone three games unbeaten.
“We needed just to grind that out. I think when you look at the age profile of the team, that was just the inexperience coming out. There are a lot of young players in there and unfortunately you get those kind of hot and cold performances. It could also be a case of a game too far, mentally more than anything else.”
The Airtricity League is stuffed with fixtures in April, and Connor is relishing the prospect of attempting to claim another success at the Dyke Road venue following the Dundalk reversal.
"Hopefully it was just a bad day at the office, but the beauty of this league is that we can put it right on Friday. There is a big disappointment for the players, but it is my job to pick them up, get them ready, and prepared.”
•Tickets for the Galway United Champions League draw will be on sale at Terryland Park at Friday evening’s match. The first prize is tickets, flights, plus accommodation for two people to the Champions League final in Madrid on May 22. The draw will be held in Monroes Tavern, Dominick Street, after the home match against Sligo Rovers on Tuesday May 4. Tickets cost €10, and are also on sale from the Galway United office, and from Ronan Coleman 087-6972823.
