Bohemians 3

Galway United 0

HAVING been looking upwards at the rewards the season might bring, especially after sitting on top of the table for a brief moment earlier in the season, Galway United will now be casting worried glances over their shoulder after this comprehensive defeat on Friday night.

The game saw United suffer their heaviest defeat since losing to Waterford in the First Division play-off final at the end of the 2022 season, the 3-0 scoreline Dalymount Park being the same as that November night in Limerick three years ago.

The final whistle that night was greeted with a chorus of boos by United fans, but the reaction last Friday was one of worry rather than rage. Waterford beat basement side Cork City on the same night to leapfrog United in the table; and Sligo Rovers’ win over Derry City 24 hours later didn’t improve the mood as they move to within six points behind United in the relegation play-off spot.

United made just one change to the side beaten a week earlier by Drogheda United, with Aaron Bolger coming into the side from the start, having made his debut off the bench in that defeat to the cup champions.

Garry Buckley was the player to make way, and with his absence, United went with a flat back four, with the centre-back pairing of Rob Slevin and Greg Cunningham flanked by Jeannot Esua on the right, and Bobby Burns at left-back.

Joining Buckley on the bench was Donnacha Sammon, formerly of Colga FC, who was in the senior match-day 23 for the first time. He didn’t get to make his debut, but Junior Thiam did, coming on in the 76th minute.

Both Patrick Hickey and Conor McCormack were still missing through injury; while Brian Cunningham joined Treaty United midweek, having made just one United appearance during the season, coming on as a sub in the 90th minute of the 1-0 defeat at home to Sligo Rovers in May.

The heat on the night was brutal – it was reading as 27 degrees pitch-side just before kick-off, with the FAI announcing earlier in the day that water breaks would be scheduled for mid-way through both halves. The PA blaring out Arrow’s 1982 single, Hot Hot Hot, before kick-off was not out of place.

Pictured: Worrying times for team manager John Caulfield as Galway United fall to heaviest defeat of season against Bohemians at Dalymount Park last Friday.