Having cruised to a convincing SSE Airtricity League premier division 5-0 win at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday against Bray Wanderers, Galway United will be keen to deliver a similarly dynamic display when St Patrick's Athletic visit Eamonn Deacy Park tomorrow (7.45pm ).
Enda Curran's splendid hat-trick, and goals from Ryan Connolly - a sensational effort from 35 yards - and Padraic Cunningham, decorated an impressive performance from Tommy Dunne's team.
Unsurprisingly the United manager was content with the display.
“In the first 10 or 15 minutes of the game, we were really at it. We could even have been out of sight at that stage,” said Dunne. “The start of both halves was really good. We are delighted to get the three points first and foremost. It is great to get the clean sheet and five goals too. Our goal difference was not great, so that was important.”
Dominant from the outset, Dunne felt United could have emerged victorious by an even greater margin. “The one thing I was disappointed with was that we didn’t get a few more goals, which I felt we deserved.”
The past couple of weeks have been encouraging from an attacking perspective as Curran and Cunningham continue to dovetail nicely in attack. Dunne is optimistic about this developing partnership.
“I’m delighted for them. They are working hard. All the time they are improving. Padraic is a novice really, but overall he is honest; his work rate is there and he wants to learn and he is prepared to do the work. I’m delighted he scored.
“Enda has been doing the work that is required. There are goals in him, but I even think there is more in him. Overall it was a good performance.”
Dunne also praised the contribution of goalkeeper Ger Hanley and a defence in which Stephen Walsh has been outstanding.
“I thought we were good at the back. I thought Ger was solid and that the back four were solid. It was important to get a clean sheet too from our perspective. We aren’t getting carried away. We got three points which pulled us up the table a little bit.”
Liam Buckley's St Patrick's Athletic will offer a demanding test on the Dyke Road, but Dunne wants Galway to be competitive against high class opposition. “We are at home now to St Patrick’s Athletic, who I watched last Friday night. They are very good. They are very strong. It will give us another set of problems and questions. Hopefully we can answer them.
“Last week was a great week as regards our points tally to get six out of nine in the three matches. We have to continue that. Everybody around us will be fighting, we understand that. This is always going to be a tough league this year. We have to make sure we are competitive.
“I thought the support was fantastic in Bray. They were supporting and encouraging. I was both delighted for them and delighted with them. It is important for this club that we are competitive.”
