Galway United entertain Peamount United in the semi-final of the All-Island Cup in Moyne Villa this Saturday (kick-off 5pm ).
It is an opportunity to dust themselves off after a disappointing draw with Waterford saw them cede some ground in the title race, with Athlone winning at home against Shamrock Rovers. It cuts the gap to just one point at the top.
Most of the commentary after the game in Headford was rightly complimentary towards Waterford. They frustrated United, who created some good openings through Aoibheann Costello and Aoibhín Donnelly before Cara Griffin opened the scoring with a superb strike.
Emma Doherty had a couple of chances to extend the lead in the second, but was denied by ‘keeper Maeve Williams. She kept her side in it just long enough for Mia Lenihan to deal a devastating blow in the 81st minute with a superbly taken free-kick that was enough for a point.
United were down a few key performers. Ceola Bergin, Niamh Farrelly and Remini Tillotson have been crucial across each line for United. However, they have had enough to compensate for losses previously and will know that they should have still had enough to put themselves in an even better position last Saturday.
United have kept coming up with the answers in difficult spaces, but for once were on the wrong side of a late strike. They have been in a scrap in most games, with the majority of their games being decided by the odd goal in this campaign.
One of the exceptions was in the All-Island Cup, where they trounced Peamount 4-0 in the group. While they will not expect things so easy again, they have the confidence of beating this opposition twice already this season.
Peamount have performed well in this competition, accounting for Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-finals but lost 6-0 to Cork last time out in a bizarre result. It was Cork’s first win of their year, and they remain bottom of the league.
Regardless of form, Saturday remains a big game and an incredible chance for Galway United to reach the final of this competition for the third time in four years.
