Crucial contests and Galway United has been the 2008 cocktail. Two more will be added to the list in the next six days. A trip to Richmond Park for a combat with St Patrick’s Athletic and an FAI Cup semi-final with Derry City are brimful of importance. When such matches are arriving thick and fast a footballer’s life glimmers with possibility.
Galway United’s recent renaissance featuring a rare seven-match unbeaten run provides a drop of encouragement. Relegation can be avoided and Jeff Kenna continues to adopt a bright philosophy, refusing to be swept away by Galway’s efficient form.
“We’ve got a big game against Pat’s on Monday, I’ll certainly focus on that game first, but if we do pick up a positive result before the Cup game, there’s obviously no reason that we should go into that Cup game fearing anything bad will happen.
“We’ve got Pat’s and Derry twice. If we pick up any sort of points from those two games before we play Finn Harps, it could be a case of we beat Finn Harps at home and that’s it, done.”
How have Galway improved so steadily? Certainly the tweak in the teams system that has permitted John Russell and Jay O’Shea to be so imaginative has brought vim and vigour to Galway’s approach. Also the donations from youngsters Seamus Conneely, Jonathan Keane, and Vinny Faherty shouldn’t be underestimated. Communication has been a factor in the resurgence too, according to Kenna. “Everybody seems to have stepped up to the plate now, from Seamus who was very quiet when he came in, to Johnny Keane was very quiet when he came into the team.
“They’re now prepared to have a little dig at people if it’s necessary and they’re prepared to have their say if we’re having a chat about anything and that’s great for me. I don’t have all the answers, the players are obviously out there performing and may see something that I miss and I have no problems with that. I really endorse all that.”
So while a degree of uncertainty surrounds Galway’s future the club hasn’t decided who will be offered deals or what type of contracts that will be available. There is a dash of hope, though, for the youngsters. “Finances will dictate that. Obviously the whole world is on the brink of recession so it depends on budget, obviously then other clubs will be interested in some of our players.
“Whether they decide their futures are better elsewhere, I don’t know, but until we get to safety all I can do is work with the team we’ve got and things are going well and long may that continue.”
O’Shea is being monitored intently by a couple of cross channel outfits, with Birmingham City the only one to confirm interest, but with the Republic of Ireland under 23 selection on duty tomorrow Galway will be without the nifty Dubliner. Kenna and Ian Foster must make decisions with Jesper Jorgensen, Iarlaith Daveron, and Derek Glynn among the potential replacements. Kenna admitted that O’Shea is a substantial loss following the triumph over Bray Wanderers. “I think that’s six goals in six games which is phenomenal. He can win games by himself, he’s that good. He will be missed, but that’s just part and parcel of football so myself and Fossie have now got to sit down and come up with a team to get us a result on Monday.”
Considering that a Ryan Guy-inspired St Patrick’s were involved in a League encounter with Shamrock Rovers on Saturday, and that Bohemians await them in the penultimate round of the Blue Riband on Friday, the Supersaints’ focus is bound to suffer. Can Galway exploit this emotional detachment?
