By Mike Rafferty

The countdown to the closing weeks of the Women’s National League is well underway and Galway United are certain to secure their highest-ever finish in the table. At this stage they are guaranteed to finish at worst third, but their ambitions are greater than that with just three games to go.

Their quest for a first ever title is out of their own hands, but if leaders Athlone Town slip up, then all sorts of possibilities crop up. First things first and United have to keep winning in order to press home their own claims and task number one comes in the shape of facing Shelbourne in Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday (4.45pm).

The sides are joint second at the moment with United enjoying a slightly better goal difference. The sides have met twice previously this season with Shelbourne winning their league meeting 1-0 in Tolka Park, but more recently they also emerged 3-1 winners when the teams met in the FAI Cup.

Of course all that history against Shelbourne will count for little come Saturday evening and for Galway United manager Phil Trill it is a game he can’t wait for.

“Tree teams are in contention for the league title with just a few games to go. Of course we are delighted to be involved, but it is just an outside chance. We are delighted to have put ourselves in this position, but we are depending on results elsewhere to get us back into it,” said trill, who did not need reminding of the last time the teams met.

“Oh, we just gave them too much respect in that FAI Cup game and this is an opportunity to give ourselves something back. We are going to go out on our shield. We will be going for it.

“I don’t think it is going to be a one goal game, but we have put ourselves in a great position and we want to take advantage of that. Of course Shelbourne will have the same ideas, but we are at home and we have to take advantage of it,” he says.

Athlone Town are two points clear of both sides, and also enjoy a game in hand which they played away against Wexford last night (Wednesday). A win for them would put them five point clear with just three games left and in the process make it difficult for them to be overhauled.

Were they to drop points it would set it up nicely for the last day of the season when Athlone come to Eamonn Deacy Park with all to play for, but only if United win their games against Shelbourne and Treaty United (away).

Pictured: Galway United made a special presentation to Nora ‘Nono’ Gough at half-time of the men’s Premier Division game against Shelbourne last Friday night to mark her place in the history of Irish women’s football. The Galway woman was the first captain of a senior Republic of Ireland women’s team, wearing the armband for the 3-2 win over Wales back in 1973. Pictured making the presentation are Galway United women’s manager, Phil Trill, and Deputy Mayor of Galway City, Cllr Neil McNeilis. Photo: Ger Ryan/Clare McGinty Ryan.