Last weekend's local derby failed to provide a winner, but SD Galway will still be hopeful of registering their first win of the season when Athlone Town visit Deacy Park tomorrow night.
SD Galway have proven to be solid enough at the Dyke Road venue, drawing all three of their fixtures in the league, but Athlone have made a significant improvement in the early weeks of this campaign.
Mike Kerley is a shrewd League of Ireland operator and, with a typical mix of youth and experience, Athlone are content with the 10 points they have accumulated so far as they currently sit in fifth position in the table.
That seems to be a fair reflection as to their current health, but a victory in the west could steer Athlone into the top half which remains their seasonal objective.
SD Galway's ambitions may not be as lofty at the moment, but they remain encouraged by the progress of a string of youngsters in the senior game. In Friday's 2-2 stalemate with Mervue United, a goal from promising substitute Jason Lyons rescued a share of the spoils. Lyons, a current member of Tommy Joyce's Galway minor Gaelic Football panel, struck for a late leveller as Tony Mannion's charges maintained their unbeaten home record in the division.
Enda Curran also grabbed a goal during the Mervue contest for SD Galway, who will be heartened by the manner in which they fought back to deny Mervue an away win.
Ronan Burke, Tom Bradshaw, Ronan Conlon, Eugene Greaney, Brian Gaffney, Curran, and Lyons all played important roles for SD Galway, who stayed a point ahead of Mervue in the standings. Athlone outfoxed SD Galway in the opening fixture of the season and Kerley will trust that Pat Jennings, Brian McCarthy, Jason Hughes, Niall Scullion, and Noel McGee can continue to impress.
Johnny Glynn's Mervue outfit will make the short Saturday evening journey to Flancare Park to face league leaders Longford Town.
The midlanders, managed by former Galway United boss Tony Cousins, suffered their first loss of the year against Finn Harps, but they have accumulated 16 points out of a possible 21.
Longford still feature former Manchester United and Newcastle United winger Keith Gillespie, while Noel Haverty, Chris Deans, Mark Salmon, Karl Bermingham, and Gary Shaw have assisted in their team's surprise rise to the summit.
Mervue are at the opposite end, but Glynn's side has drawn two matches in a row which suggests a move in the right direction in the coming weeks.
Despite conceding initially last weekend, Jason Molloy and Damien O'Rourke then scored for Mervue before SD Galway replied to deny the visitors.
Having held Waterford United the previous Friday at Fahy's Field, Mervue will be eager to stitch a third game to their small unbeaten run by avoiding defeat in the midlands.
Brian O'Donoghue, Barry McEntee, Kenny Farrell, Gary Kelly, Alan Murphy, Molloy, and Pat Hoban will be striving to influence proceedings when Mervue make the trip to Longford.
GUST Euro 2012 merchandise
Galway United Supporters’ Trust 2012 merchandise, in association with the Peter McVerry Trust and the Deacy family, is on sale this week from Terryland Park, from O'Briens Newsagents, William Street, Galway, and from The Square Inn, Athenry. Merchandise is also on sale on-line at www.galwaysoccer.com
