It is both strange and refreshing how one road win can have such a galvanising effect. This time last week Galway United were entering the new League of Ireland season without any expectations, interest was low, the beauty of the 2008 great escape long since forgotten.
Then Galway went to Richmond Park, battered St Patrick’s Athletic, and suddenly optimism is sweeping back into the town again. A healthy audience is sure to ramble up the Dyke Road eager to see whether United’s triumph in Inchicore can be followed by another stirring success.
In the contemporary era too much stock can be placed on systems and formations, but Galway’s approach drew significant acclaim last Friday. A similar set up with the delightful Jay O’Shea and Derek O’Brien probing behind Vinny Faherty is expected. Foster explained the rationale of his decision to opt for a unit with two wide players. “ It can be looked upon as negative, but for me, when we go forward it’s a 4-3-3 and we’ve got the energy and the application to go and make it a 4-3-3 at times and we did that. Jayo and Derek, they’ve got licence to go forward and I’m not asking a lot of them defensively either.”
But Galway will encounter a seriously stern task at Terryland Park tomorrow because the Dundalk squad is high on experience and domestic know how. Sean Connor’s penchant for producing safe and solid teams was evident at Sligo Rovers and Bohemians so don’t be surprised to see Dundalk seeking clean sheets in every fixture they participate in. A battle is certainly anticipated.
Foster has ensured the Galway players have toiled diligently over the past couple of months, and is satisfied with the way matters have evolved. “I tried to get as many games as I could, I got seven games in, and it worked for us in the sense that as much as you want players on training grounds you only get match fit by playing matches and I knew I was going to have a problem with fluidity in the team because players didn’t really know each other that well.
“So that’s why we had the number of games we did and I think it showed the benefit of that {against St Patrick’s}.”
And, barring any late injuries Foster will opt to retain the same XI that served him so well against the Saints. David Cooke had been named in the side, but a hamstring injury flared up shortly before kick off, Cian McBrien proved to be an adequate replacement providing a tidy assist for Galway’s insurance goal, and Foster has been impressed by the two ex Salthill Devon youngsters. “I feel for David, he’s worked really, really hard in pre-season and we’ve not had a single injury pre-season and we managed to get one in the warm-up, but Cian McBrien came in.
“Cian was, to be honest, very, very, unfortunate not to start anyway, he’s been excellent pre-season and he slotted in nicely and did a fantastic job. He’s excellent at keeping up in possession and I was pleased for him.”
Having passed the ball so sweetly as McBrien and Michael McGrath combined well with anchorman Sean Kelly, United will be anxious to be so stylish against Dundalk. It will be a taxing hour and a half, but Galway approach this tussle with the confidence a telling victory brings.
