Phil Trill’s Galway United have been here before. The experience of two All-Island cup triumphs will surely be a wind at their back on Saturday. There seems to be confidence that it can help to deliver a third All-Island Cup in four years.
United will firstly have to overcome Shelbourne’s home advantage. They managed the same two years ago against Shamrock Rovers. What would help their cause is if they could tap into the maroon wave descending on Dublin for the hurling final on Sunday.
Trill said: "It’s going to be a great weekend for Galway in the capital. We want to make sure we get a good crowd in. We’ve seen the difference it can make."
Since a famous win in their inaugural season, United have found it difficult in Drumcondra. The games have always been closely fought. To emphasise the point, there was a 0-0 in the same venue earlier in the season. Last season, Shels came out on top twice.
"There’s not much between the teams. It’s going to be a tight fixture. Going to Tolka Park is not an easy task but it’s one we look forward to.
"It’s a transitional season for [Shels]. We’ve benefited from that by bringing in Roma (McLaughlin ) and Amanda (McQuillan ). It’s their manager’s first cup final at this level. We are a bit blessed that we have that experience.
"It’s the third Shelbourne manager we’ve faced. That can bring fresh impetus but it can also bring opportunities for us."
Trill is comfortable with where his squad is. They seem a settled group. He offered a guarded update on the availability of players before an interesting observation on the importance of continuity.
"[Ceola] Bergin is out long term and [Amy] Madden is out for a couple of weeks. Other than that, we are okay. We are juggling a bit.
"We talk a lot about changes in the league. We have been lucky to get the support to build this slowly and strategically. We are seeing the benefit of this whereas other clubs are yo-yoing a bit and players are chopping and changing. We have quite a high retention rate."
United are certainly doing plenty of things right since their entry into the women’s game. The retention rate exemplifies this. There is unarguably a pathway from the academy too. It is a notable feature of this league that players are getting their chances while still young.
As Trill noted, they continue to fight on three fronts in July. This helps in every aspect and with a short 22-game league, it does not cause huge problems in terms of congestion. It provides opportunities for rotation, something Trill is never shy about.
Another win on Saturday would be further validation for the project. Perhaps it could be another stepping stone on the journey to even greater ambitions.
Trill’s perspective on this is however correct. Galway United is not a club that can or should take finals or titles of any variety lightly. Its women have a chance to address that again on Saturday. Neither the task nor the prize should be underestimated.
This impressive United team will certainly not be underestimated.
Bus and match ticket combo
Galway United are running a bus and match ticket combo for fans attending the All-Island Cup final in Tolka Park on Saturday. The offering is priced at €10 for bus and match ticket for U12's and €15 for over 12's.
The bus and match ticket combo can be availed of here - https://galwayunitedfriendsco-op.clubforce.com/products/shop.
