THE distraction of the FAI Cup will be put aside for another three weeks or so for Galway United as they return to league action this Friday when Derry City visit Eamonn Deacy Park (7.45pm).

John Caulfield’s side have been handed a tough ask in the last eight of the cup after being the last name out of the hat in Tuesday’s draw, which saw them handed a trip to Richmond Park to take on St Patrick’s Athletic.

The game has been fixed for Sunday, September 14 with a 6pm kick-off, and will be televised live on RTÉ2.

That will be the first of back-to-back trips to Inchicore as the two sides are scheduled to meet in the league on Friday September 19.

United’s progression in the cup also means that their league game with Sligo Rovers, which was scheduled for Friday September 12, has now been moved to Monday September 22 (7.45pm).

That is United’s second game in the coming weeks to be rescheduled, as Shelbourne’s ongoing involvement in Europe means the league game with the league champions, which was fixed for Friday week, August 29, has been moved to Sunday, August 31 in Tolka Park (5pm).

All that is for another day, however, as all the focus this week will be on the meeting with the Candystripes on Friday.

The Tribesmen will go into the game with a bit of confidence after last Friday’s meeting with Salthill Devon in the cup delivered a much-needed win. They have won just two of their last nine games, both of which were against non-league sides in the cup, a poor run which has dragged them into a battle to avoid the relegation play-offs.

The two teams who are either side of them in the table meet in the RSC on Friday night, as Waterford host Sligo Rovers, so a first victory in the league for United since June 20 – a 3-1 win at home to Pats – would be a massive result on what could prove to be a key night in the battle to avoid the play-offs.

“Derry would be disappointed with the result on Friday night, going out of the cup on penalties at home to Drogheda, but they still have an outside chance of winning the league and that will be their focus now,” Caulfield told City Sport this week.

“Given the level of investment in the side, they simply have to get European football, so going out of the cup closed one avenue for that, which means their focus is now entirely on the league. They missed out on Europe last season which was a surprise, they were there or thereabouts for almost the entire season, but they just fell away at the end.

“They’ve had maybe a few poor results recently to drift back from Shamrock Rovers, who are probably going to win the league at this stage. Derry need to win the league with the investment they have, but if not, they at least have to get Europe and don’t you worry, they’ll be well up for the game on Friday night,” Caulfield said.

There has been very little between the sides since United returned to the top-flight last season: it is honours even in terms of results, with two wins apiece, and the other three games finish in draws.

United’s two wins came last season, and City taking the points when the sides met in Eamonn Deacy Park back in April with a 3-2 win, but Caulfield believes United’s fortunes may have turned as a number of players who were out injured are back to fitness.

“We have had two good performances and two good results in our last two games, the win over Salthill and drawing at home to Shamrock Rovers. We have players back who were out injured, and our new signings are settled in now, so hopefully we can build on those last two games,” he said.

There are injury concerns over both Greg Cunningham, who missed last weekend’s cup game, and Bobby Burns, who was replaced at half-time. Although Conor McCormack has returned to full training, he is unlikely to feature on Friday, but otherwise United have a full hand to choose from.

Pictured: Jeannot Esua of Galway United gets his clearance away against Salthill Devon’s Enda Curran during the clubs’ FAI Cup clash at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.