Twenty five years ago Galway United claimed FAI Cup glory at Lansdowne Road, so Tommy Dunne’s team will be keen to deliver in the famous competition again when the Tribesmen face Bohemians in a second round tie at Dalymount Park tomorrow (7.45pm ).
Despite problems in the SSE Airtricity League premier division, the Gypsies are especially eager to embark on a lengthy cup run. Aware of the financial implications, the match carries huge significance for both clubs.
“It’s the tie of the round,” Dunne says. "Dalymount is a tough place to go, but it’s the cup and we’re looking forward to it. We’ll give it everything.”
Hit by injuries and suspensions in recent weeks, United responded impressively when securing a valuable victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Saturday.
Eric Foley and Marc Ludden netted sweet goals for United, while Dunne also praised the influential Alex Byrne and Kevin Devaney.
“We’re expecting players who come in to step up to the mark,” Dunne says. “I thought Alex Byrne and Eric Foley were very good in the middle. I thought Ruairi Keating got better as the game wore on, and Kevin Devaney had a good performance too.
"In general there were a lot of steady performances. There are a few areas we need to improve on, but there are a lot of positives.“
"Bray have had a sticky start with injuries and different circumstances. They’ve got a decent group that will give anybody a game and you can see they’re improving.”
Dunne was encouraged United grabbed the full complement of spoils from their trip to the seaside venue.
“Derry City were in Cork, Rovers possibly expected to win in Wexford and didn’t, but it just shows you that anybody can beat anybody in this League. I believe Longford were very unlucky not to beat Pat’s also.
“It’s a tough league, there are a lot of even matches. In Bray we were good at different times, at other times we were a bit sloppy. But the most important thing was the three points.”
Ludden, who netted the decisive second goal, said results had gone their way.
“This game was all about catching the teams ahead of us and the three points gets us closer to that pack of teams.
“Going back to the Longford game, being 2-0 up, to concede those two goals was poor in our eyes. Eric Foley stepped up to that free-kick and it was a cracker."
There is increasing belief and confidence in the United squad, Ludden says.
“I feel last year we probably would have drawn that type of game or maybe gone and lost it. It just shows the character in the team.
“We walked in after the game, we won 2-1, we got the three points, yet we were disappointed to concede a poor goal with five minutes to go. It just shows the level of commitment and how much we want success.
“We were disappointed to lose to Limerick in the EA Sports Cup because we got to the final last year, we wanted to go one better. We’re taking every game seriously and the FAI Cup is an opportunity for us to win a trophy this year and it would be nice to win a trophy with Galway United.”
*Galway United Supporters Trust is running a bus to Friday's FAI Cup match at Dalymount Park, leaving The Dail Bar, Middle Street, at 4pm. Contact Ronan Coleman 087-6972823 or Dominick Walsh 087-9163438.
