The pace of this relentless league means that there is little time to savour Galway United’s 4-3 victory on Monday night.
It would be difficult to savour such a messy affair anyway. Relief was the abounding emotion, peppered with some optimism.
Kris Twardek has made a massive contribution already. His four goals have been impressive and important. The best example of his start to the seasons came with a cracking opener. The ball from Aaron Bolger to unlock Waterford was sensational. Twardek was quick, direct and skilful in the control and deadly in the finish.
The greatest criticism of United’s start to the season might be that they have yet to put a 90-minute performance together. It might be harsh read on their games against Drogheda, Pats and Bohs but in all those cases they were undone late and came away with nothing.
In the other games where they have gotten results, they have been dominant for spells in all but have let their opponents back into the game.
They let Waterford back into it at least twice. Their first goal was disappointing on a number of fronts. Pádraig Amond got the ball to feet in the box. Luke Heeney sailed in a cross unchallenged. Gianfranco Facchineri was unlucky to guide into his own net.
The second will always be criticised because it was a concession from route one football. However, one had to marvel at the movement of Amond to get on the end of the long ball. His powerful drive home also reminded of the endurance of class.
Like they did against Dundalk, United responded emphatically. A penalty from David Hurley came at a great time before the break. Twardek was dominant again to put his side ahead and Frantz Pierrot got a poacher’s goal seemingly to seal it.
The concession of a penalty late on to give Waterford another sniff will rankle the most this week. It was a rash tackle from Wasiri Williams who has shown enough in the shirt to suggest he will be a significant asset.
But United survived and in a madcap game, played on an extremely challenging surface, against a likely relegation rival, that has to be enough.
Little will be expected from the masses tomorrow night. United have had the worst of this fixture for so long that United fans will feel only forlorn hope travelling up.
Yet the weight of history ignores arguably more pressing positives. Firstly, United have only been undone very late on against their more illustrious Dublin rivals Pats and Bohs. Secondly, Rovers are not in any kind of ominous form and are again starting slowly relative to their blistering pace in later rounds. Thirdly, the decades-long wait for a win against the Hoops always forgets that under John Caulfield, United have drawn four of their eight league encounters in the last two seasons.
United can be expected to frustrate and have threats at set-pieces and counter-attacks to ask a question or two of their own. Without heed of science or analysis, they also seem due for some luck. If John Caulfield’s side travel with belief, tomorrow night could be historic.
The Maroon Army are running a bus to Fridays Premier Division match at Tallaght Stadium, departing from McGinns, Woodquay at 4pm and picking up along the route to Dublin. Seats can be booked by contacting Kian Kenny at 087 9404349 or Ronan Coleman at 087 6972823.
