Longford Town 1

Galway United 0

IF there was one positive to take out of Bishopsgate on Saturday night, it is the fact that Galway United won’t have to visit the venue again in the league for at least another 12 months.

For the second time this season, United dominated a game at the Strokestown Road venue, but left empty handed after the home side scored first and then held on for dear life to keep their play-off hopes alive, and force United to leave the champagne on ice for a little while longer.

An annoyance on the full-time whistle, when the season is done and dusted, when the United players and management are looking at their championship medals and looking forward to a return to the big playground next season, this will be nothing more than a sidenote from a hugely successful season.

It did, mind you, serve as a reminder that if you don’t put in a 90-minute performance, there is every chance you will be picked off. It was a lesson United didn’t heed back on the May Bank Holiday Monday, and it was the same story last Saturday night.

Saturday’s defeat was only the second time United have failed to take any points from a game: they haven’t become a bad team overnight, but this was a reminder that there is still work to do this season, never mind looking towards the strengthening that will be needed for life back in the top flight in 2024.

The management’s reaction to a lethargic opening half was to make two changes at the break, with Evan O’Connor and Vince Borden the ones hauled off, but there are other players who reappeared for that second-half who know they were lucky not to also have been hooked at the break.

Pictured: Galway United’s Edward McCarthy who was one of several visiting players unable to find a way past Longford Town goalkeeper Jack Brady on Saturday.