After the consternation of last week, Galway United will be relieved to begin their Summer Series in Pearse Stadium tomorrow night.
It remains a historic occasion, but one that has slightly gone below the radar and remains to be seen as to what grip it will gain on the public imagination.
It has been a fruitful summer in Salthill for Galway’s footballers and hurlers and Galway United will be keen to continue the trajectory.
Their need is greater after last week’s results. They suffered a gut-wrenching loss late on against Dundalk that will have hurt more given its context in Cork. It hurts too, because it was the fifth time this season United have shipped a goal after the 90th minute mark. More broadly, they will have been disappointed with their performance, which seemed to fade in the second half.
Waterford winning against Sligo shouldn’t offer too much comfort either. They move to within five of Sligo and seven of United after their second win of the season. The only comfort comes in the indifferent form of Sligo and Drogheda who are in the mix with United.
Tomorrow’s opponents, Derry City, put an awful run of results behind them with an emphatic 4-1 win over Bohemians in their last outing in Celtic Park.
Home form is crucial in the type of conundrum that United are in and they will need to adapt to their new surroundings quickly. This match is followed by unenviable trips to Dublin to face the top two.
It should mean something that United were already able to get the upper hand on Derry at home earlier this season.
Frantz Pierrot got the winner that night but has only scored once since. There is still belief that he will hit his purple patch. He is proven at this level. Kris Twardek was a notable absentee last time out also, and a prolonged absence would hurt United’s prospects.
There was more positive news around Arthur Parker who looked good in Cork. As did Lee Devitt in the other full-back position. Gianfranco Facchineri has re-established himself at the heart of the defence which has been another positive for John Caulfield’s side.
Conor McCormack has also come to the fore. After limited involvement at the start of the season, the 36-year-old has started four of the last five.
There are still options available, and it is difficult to predict any line on the team with certainty. This can be viewed through a positive lens but also suggests a team that is not in the sort of form where it can’t be disturbed.
It feels that United could do with a result tomorrow, more than at any other time of the season to date. To assert themselves in the table. To galvanise morale after a difficult week. To breathe life into the Pearse Stadium project.
