GALWAY United will host Bray Wanderers at Éamonn Deacy Park this evening, Friday (7:45pm) in the first of three Premier Division games over the next week that could, potentially, define their season.
Indeed, United will hope that they can secure something from their next two outings against Bray Wanderers and Dundalk – sitting third and second place in the table respectively – in order not to lose ground on the teams above them while also ensuring bottom side St. Patrick’s Athletic, who they face next Friday, do not overtake them.
Again, crucial games. “That’s it,” admits United boss Shane Keegan. “We have three games in seven days, with the third one arguably being the real six-pointer. That, though, is the reason we have put together a good squad.
“I think, certainly, there will be a bit of rotation over the course of the next few games because we have to be right and arrive at the Pat’s game with everybody fit and to be in a good position to be able to give it their all. It is quite an ask for players to line out in the three games in seven days and be 100% for the Pat’s one.
“So, we need to be clever about it and about what games we use what players over the Friday and the Monday games. Can we put out teams that can be competitive and gives us a chance in both of those games while at the same time wanting to get to the Pat’s game with everybody fresh and fit and available? We’ll see.”
Although United hover just above the foot of the table – and on the face of it look prime candidates to be one of the three to go down – their league form has not been that bad. They have been competitive in almost every fixture – drawing an astonishing nine of their 18 games. However, while they are not losing these matches, they are not winning them either. That’s the problem.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
