With only a third of the games gone, it has already been a remarkable season. Galway United enter their game away to St Patrick’s Athletic with a share at the top of the table.
There is little time to savour it. The games come thick and fast now. The congestion at the top of the table, where three points separate first and seventh, will surely be chipped away at in May.
There are six games this month. After visiting Inchicore and hosting Bohemians, United will take on the teams that might have been expected to be their competition in the middle of the month - Waterford, Sligo and Cork. They will then face another trip to Tallaght before a brief respite. Two rounds of fixtures will have passed at that point.
The giddiness should probably be put on hold until then, but it is difficult to dampen enthusiasm currently. In Moses Dyer, United look to have a star, the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Jay O’Shea lit up Terryland.
The Kiwi is the league’s top scorer and its top story. How he was recruited, how he has scored and excelled has fascinated the league. It has propelled his side to another level. His seven goals equal the amount United had managed in the first twelve games of last season.
To fixate on one player’s attributes and form would be to miss the point of what is making the Caulfield and Horgan machine purr. There is strength in the collective, leadership from within the group, and a work ethic. When other managers like Tim Clancy are citing the hunger and determination of the Galway defence as something to strive for, it is an indication that something special is being built.
There are little examples of it everywhere. Greg Cunningham confounded expectations to come back early from injury when he saw his team’s need. Jimmy Keohane has played at the back, in the middle and up front this season. Garry Buckley performed brilliantly when called upon earlier than anticipated last Friday after an absence. Stephen Walsh, who has struggled to hit his heights of the last two seasons, helped to turn the game last Friday against Drogheda as much as Dyer did.
Yet, there have been some rare times this season where a gulf in quality against more monied opposition has shown. The home defeats against Shamrock Rovers and Derry City are a sign for caution, as Pats are another side overdue to ignite.
It is hard to argue that Stephen Kenny’s side's form has been below expectations, given the context of how they finished last season. They haven’t beaten a side out of the current top five all season, despite having six attempts at it.
United have been here before and should now know the danger of a wounded animal. Particularly one that possesses the talents of Forrester, Elbouzedi, Melia and Mulraney to name just a few. United will have their hands full and it should be a cauldron on Friday night in Richmond Park.
It is one they will likely have to brave without the services of Greg Cunningham and Vince Borden. Team news is often scant from the camp for good reason, but both players seemed to pull up with hamstring injuries last Friday making their inclusion unlikely.
It will be helpful to be able to call upon the experience of Buckley and Conor McCormack, who finally saw action last week at Shels. The wingbacks will be pivotal given the opposition’s talent on the flanks. Bobby Burns and Jeannot Esua have been excellent and will need to be again.
The Caulfield-Kenny rivalry of the 2010s was an important part in the increasing prominence and standards in this league. If United continue to punch above their weight, it could be set for its most thrilling chapter.
Galway United Friends Co-Op are running a bus to Friday's match at Richmond Park, leaving from The Connacht Hotel at 4pm. Seats can be booked by contacting Micheál Murphy at 086 0829341 or Ronan Coleman at 087 6972823.
