The tragic passing of Derry City captain Ryan McBride has ensured Galway United's two matches this week have been postponed as a mark of respect.
United were due to play Mayo League in the EA Sports Cup on Tuesday, and Derry on Saturday, but both fixtures will now be rescheduled.
The break comes after United gained only their second point of this season's SSE Airtricity League premier division when they shared the spoils with Bohemians at Dalymount Park. The draw certainly offered some encouragement for Galway United.
Despite falling behind to a Dinny Corcoran header, United responded impressively with Ronan Murray netting the equaliser. And in the second half their cause was not helped by the controversial and harsh dismissal of Alex Byrne, who had been an influential figure for the visitors.
However United supporters who braved the wind and rain in Dublin on St Patrick's Day saw enough to suggest Shane Keegan’s team are acquiring form. It was more the character United demonstrated rather than any class, but the willingness of David Cawley and Byrne to put their bodies on the line bodes well.
Byrne is a footballer of immense potential, while his former Salthill Devon colleague Colm Horgan delivered a capable display at right full. Horgan is a worthy captain, somebody ready, willing, and able to improve the standards at the club.
Ronan Murray and Vinny Faherty were selfless in attack, while Jesse Devers and Conor Melody both contributed handsomely as substitutes.
“It was a very hard earned point," Keegan admitted. "We were coming out in the second half thinking we were going to be the dominant team and we probably were while it was 11 against 11, the breeze made a world of a difference and we were looking forward to taking advantage of it in the second half.
Sending off pivotal
“Obviously the sending off turned the game, and you go from wanting to do everything you can to win the game to doing everything you can to make sure you get a point out of it.”
United had started impressively before leaking a soft goal when failing to deal with Lorcan Fitzgerald's well-struck corner. Corcoran reacted smartly in the packed area to nod the Gypsies ahead.
“The most frustrating thing was that we didn’t score before they scored. Whatever about conceding, it’s the fact that we’re not taking our chances. We had a couple of decent efforts inside the 18 yard box before they got their goal," Keegan lamented.
“We know Fitzgerald is the best set piece taker in the league, we knew they would be a big danger from set pieces, and we were confident they weren’t going to break us down from open play and that proved to be the case. It’s hard to stop them when you combine Fitzgerald’s deliveries and that breeze."
But Keegan was satisfied with how United coped, Murray levelling with a sweet free-kick. Byrne's dismissal was a blow, but United ploughed on defiantly.
“I was happy with our response when we went down to 10 men. In terms of using the breeze, they got 45 minutes, we only got 25 minutes with 11 men. If we could have kept the full 11, I think we could have got the win.
"Melody went into the centre of the field for us and put in a really good shift. Jesse Devers worked his socks off when he came in. I thought our back-line was very good and Bohs got very little change out of us from that side of things.”
