Defeat drops United into relegation play-off spot

Shamrock Rovers 2

Galway United 0

It is getting seriously worrying now. Galway United’s 18th defeat of the season, and results elsewhere over the weekend, has seen Tommy Dunne’s side slip into the dreaded bottom two of the table and staring an automatic return to the First Division square in the face.

Once again, some dreadful defending put paid to their hopes of taking anything from Friday night’s game, an encounter they were very much involved in before conceding in first-half injury time. The talk in the press box at half-time was the unlikelihood of a United equaliser, and when the home side doubled their lead mid-way through the second-half, it was a case of ‘ball burst, game over’ for the visitors.

In truth, United would have travelled to the Tallaght Stadium in hope rather than expectation, especially given the personnel they were missing. Ryan Connolly, Stephen Walsh, Jason Molloy and Marc Ludden were all ruled out, the first three through injury, and Ludden due to suspension: so threadbare is the United squad, Dunne was only able to name five substitutes rather than the full quota of seven.

Youngster Conor Barry was handed his first league start for United, linking the United midfield with lone striker Enda Curran, and he thrived for the first 20 minutes or so as the home side were unsure who should pick him up.

United traded on more than parity in those opening stages: Rovers might have been third and chasing European qualification, but they have been far from impressive in recent weeks, and stumbled to an unconvincing midweek win over Bray Wanderers before welcoming United to south Dublin.

The visitors had the first sight of goal when David O’Leary picked out Curran on the edge of the box, but like any 20-handicapper in golf will tell you, if you lift your head while swinging, you’ll ‘top’ your effort, and Curran’s shot dribbled into the grasp of Barry Murphy in the Rovers goal.

Barry was a bag of energy, not afraid to run at the Rovers defence, but not for the first time this season there was far too big a distance between the United midfield and the front players, meaning support was not always available.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.