Regrettably moral victories count for little in Cup football. While an honourable stalemate was within Galway United’s compass Mark Farren’s razor sharp 63rd minute intervention ensured there will be only one Brandywell battle this week.
When two of Irish football’s brightest managers assessed the contest they agreed on one aspect, a depleted Galway could have forced a replay. Stephen Kenny spoke first. “I thought we defended well and I thought Clive Delaney was outstanding for us. By and large we weren’t cut open. Still I wouldn’t want to be unkind on Galway, and it could have been a draw. They had a lot of the play, and in fairness they played well.
“Galway’s system is unusual, and John Lester, who was sitting in front of the back four, mopped everything up, and we couldn’t really get to grips with it. We couldn’t get our wide players into it and that is where we are normally quite strong. It wasn’t a vintage performance by any stretch of the imagination.
“I suppose we are not really elated which you would expect to be. We are just relieved really to get to the final. The players were devastated to lose the Setanta Cup semi-final and I think that knocked us a bit, losing that semi-final.”
Losing at the penultimate stage of a competition has been experienced by Galway twice this season, and Kenna was adamant that Farren’s expertise was pivotal despite the significant absentee list. “It was a semi-final and whoever goes and plays you would expect them to run themselves into the ground, which they did. I don’t want to be disrespectful to the lads, but if we had the three players who were suspended we might have beaten them. It wasn’t to be and the difference was Farren, the first chance he gets he scores. We maybe lacked that bit of extra quality they had in the final third to take opportunities.
“We couldn’t get the breakthrough and unfortunately for us they just had that little bit of extra quality. We had some good play in the second-half without creating an exceptional goal scoring chance. I couldn’t be more proud of the players, it was a fantastic effort.”
It was an afternoon when football gripped Galway. An away end loaded with passionate supporters added to the sense of import, while the locals settled into the ground earlier than usual eager to soak in every last drop of glamour.
There was a touch of the days of yore about the way the Candystripes thundered into town with their trademark dollop of colour and noise. Kenny spoke eloquently about how the game matters in the north west.
“It is great for Derry to be in the Cup final. Support-wise it is the biggest club in the country along with Cork and when finals come around the club is capable of taking a lot of people. You have to live up there to appreciate the passion. It is fantastic to get to the Cup final and I am very proud of that.” Galway will monitor events closely, aware that if their own improvement continues sampling such an occasion is possible.
