SSE Airtricity League first division football returns to Eamonn Deacy Park on Sunday when Galway FC host Wexford Youths at the Dyke Road venue at 3pm.
Last Friday's spirited draw with Shelbourne ensured Galway's excellent recent form continued as Tommy Dunne's side has now pocketed 16 points out of a possible 18. Only a highly unlikely seven-goal defeat against Wexford will deny Galway a promotion play-off berth, but Dunne feels second place in the table is still a possibility.
With Shelbourne facing an awkward assignment at St Colman's Park against Cobh Ramblers, Dunne reckons a Galway win might edge his team ahead of the Dubliners.
“The job is not done, we’re not over the line yet,” says Dunne. “We’re still playing for second spot. Shelbourne have to go to Cobh and we know how tough playing Cobh is. I know Shelbourne will be missing one or two players as well.
“However we’ve got to make sure that we’re right mentally for this week, that’s the main thing. We can’t afford to not be right.”
Dunne is expecting a big crowd at Deacy Park.
“I hope our supporters come out first and foremost to support the lads to try to get second spot, and if we do get the play-off spot, then to congratulate the boys for getting there.
“We’ve some big games coming up. We’ve got to be strong and mentally good.”
Galway were strong dealing with a Dylan Connolly-inspired Shelbourne at Tolka Park as Jake Keegan rescued a share of the spoils for the visitors. Galway delivered a purposeful performance, but still trailed late on before Keegan's latest intervention.
Dunne is delighted Galway enter the last day of the first division campaign with plenty at stake.
“There’s been so many games this year we should have won with chances that we have created and it was another one of those at Tolka, but I’m just disappointed that over the season we weren’t competing to win the league itself.
“We’re still in the hunt for something and we’ve kept the league alive right until the final day and that was our goal at the start of the year and now we just want to try to get ourselves over the line to try to get there.”
The diligent manner in which Galway competed throughout the interesting encounter with Shelbourne satisfied Dunne.
“There’s huge character in this team, they kept at the game against Shelbourne. I thought for a spell in the second half it looked like we could open Shelbourne up at will, it was just getting that finish and the finish wouldn’t come. The work rate of the players is outstanding and overall I’d like to congratulate them for their work. but it’s not finished yet.”
Galway's attitude and application must be at the same level for the rest of the month as Dunne's charges boldly seek to attain top-flight status.
