Tomorrow night in Inchicore, Galway United will hope for better fortune. It was another good showing on Sunday in the FAI Cup quarter final, but ultimately United bowed out after extra-time.
Results are paramount at this point of the season but United will have to take encouragement from their most recent performance. David Hurley was immense in the middle. Aaron Bolger and Conor McCormack showed well at various points beside him. United were strong and combative at the back. Jeannot Esua stood out at right-back, but the back four as a unit coped very well. The change in shape was working until Killian Brouder’s dismissal in extra-time.
Dara McGuinness was lively in attack. Jimmy Keohane showed his quality but will rue a miss in the first half that could have changed the complexion of the tie. Jeremy Sivi got the most minutes of his United career and provides a different threat that could yet prove important.
Although they may have shown their hand, the fact that they caused Pats so many problems suggests that United are unlikely to make too many changes tomorrow.
Stephen Kenny was gracious in his praise of his opponents after the game. The quality at his disposal told in the end. The interventions of Kian Leavy and Jake Mulraney, as well as the free-kick from Chris Forrester made the difference.
It is an important game again for Pats. They are in a tight battle for European competition. There is not a huge amount of margin for error in their run-in, as little separates the sides behind Rovers.
Huge in its own right, tomorrow’s game only kickstarts a pivotal week that may prove definitive. As big a Connacht Derby as there ever was against Sligo takes place on Monday. Cork at home follows on Friday.
Taking some points into those games would be an invaluable boost. Coming out of this week in a positive position is a must.
