The second phase of SSE Airtricity League premier division games commences tomorrow as Galway United face a demanding assignment away to Derry City at the Brandywell.
Throughout the decades United have encountered plenty of bother on the banks of the Foyle, but United boss Tommy Dunne hopes his team can be resourceful.
“I know from playing myself, the Brandywell is a tough place to go for any opposition,” he says. “ From our point of view we must dust ourselves off to get going again. Derry are a strong outfit. They have got some really good players, but we are hoping to start the second phase of games with a positive result.
“The return of points in the first phase is not enough. We have to get more points. Every opportunity we can to get points we must take.”
The Candystripes came from behind to defeat Galway on the opening night of the season at Eamonn Deacy Park. Since then United's form has been mixed with St Patrick's Athletic claiming a 4-1 victory in the west last Friday evening.
“The result was fair enough,” Dunne says. “ We performed quite well in the early stages of the game. Pat’s didn’t get into their fluid style of play, but over the course of the game they did. Overall our mistakes at crucial times were costly.
“We had a great chance with Gary [Shanahan] to go one up, but we didn’t take it. The penalty - we aren’t getting a huge amount of luck with these penalty situations - it was a good move from Pat’s to get themselves into a striking position.”
Following that controversial incident Galway lapses in concentration were punished by the vibrant visitors.
“If you look at the chances in the match, Pat’s had seven or eight; we had five or six. So if you look at that in a ratio of goals. we probably should have been a little bit closer. Silly little mistakes are proving costly. At 2-1 we were back in the game, but decision making from one or two of the players cost us the third goal. Then as a contest it is over.”
Injuries suffered by a string of United defenders, including left back Marc Ludden, has been costly.
“It is frustrating because you’re not getting any continuity or stability within the group. When Marc comes in he is a bit more experienced. He has nearly 200 League of Ireland games under his belt, he has a few attributes in his game that can cause problems for the opposition plus he gives you balance. If we had all the players fit for a period of time, we might have that continuity within the back four.”
• Galway United Supporters Trust is running a bus to Friday’match at the Brandywell, leaving The Dail Bar. For further details, contact Dominick Walsh (087 ) 9163438 or Ronan Coleman (087 ) 6972823.
