WE always expected to write the words “Galway United welcome the league leaders . . .” at some stage this season, but to be perfectly honest with you, we thought that would be in two weeks’ time when Shamrock Rovers make the pilgrimage west.

Instead, here we are, writing about the visit this Friday of the side Galway United finished 25 points ahead on their way to winning the First Division title last year, and attaching to them the moniker of league leaders. So, here it goes: Galway United welcome league leaders Waterford FC to Eamonn Deacy Park this Friday (7.45pm).

The two promoted sides have made solid starts to the season: United didn’t look out of place in their opening game against St Patrick’s Athletic when losing 1-0 to an early set-piece goal, before bouncing back with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 win away to Dundalk last Friday.

The Blues went top of the table on the same night with a 4-1 win away to Drogheda, having opened the campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to Shelbourne, and in the first of four double-game weekends – all of which fall between now and the June Bank Holiday weekend – United travel to Dublin next Monday to face Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

“We look at Waterford first,” club captain, Conor McCormack, said in the aftermath of last Friday’s win in Oriel Park.

“We have recovery first after the Dundalk game, we look at the pros and cons, we can all improve, including myself, there are a lot of things I can do better. So we just concentrate on getting our full recovery in, and then start looking at Waterford. After that, we move on to Shelbourne,” he said.

“We look forward to being back in Eamonn Deacy Park, and hopefully we can give the fans something to cheer about at the end of the game. It would be great to have another full house, it has been brilliant so far this season and they were brilliant last season. It was great the other night and we were disappointed we couldn’t get a positive result, there was a great crowd here in Dundalk and we appreciate that support,” he said.

Pictured: Ed McCarthy, who opened the scoring in Dundalk last Friday, pictured in action against St Patrick’s Athletic on the opening weekend of the season. PIC: Joe O’Shaughnessy.