Devon make their point on the pitch as former Utd fans make theirs off it

Date Published: {J}

SD Galway 1

Wexford Youths 1

Dara Bradley

Beforehand, let’s face it, this fixture didn’t jump out as being the League of Ireland clash of the weekend. The tie between two basement clubs from last season’s First Division was glistening with as much allure as a mud-wrestling contest between Susan Boyle and Mary Byrne.

But, surprisingly, SD Galway and Wexford Youths dished up an exciting – and dare we say it, enjoyable – encounter at Terryland Park on Friday night. It really was entertaining – and not in a train crash sort of way – even if the quality wasn’t always what it perhaps should be at this level.

SD Galway, formerly Salthill Devon, certainly acquitted themselves well playing at the Dyke Road for the first time as a ‘home’ venue: if they can sustain and build on this committed and gutsy performance, then they’ll definitely meet the season target of being ‘competitive’, a goal set by manager Tony Mannion.

SD Galway’s opener at Terryland was always going to evoke strong sentiments from fans of Galway United – and even within Salthill Devon – meaning inevitably, all eyes were on the size of the crowd that showed up.

Sentinel Sport estimated, for what it’s worth, there were no less than 200 and no more than 300; the official attendance was apparently 347. But who cares about splitting hairs over attendances? Either way it’s clear former United fans aren’t missing ‘live’ Friday night football enough to trot down the road to watch SD Galway. Not yet, anyway.

Mores the pity, because they missed a lively game, two cracking goals that wouldn’t have been out of place in the English Premier League, and oodles of hard graft and positive attitude from two very committed outfits.

What a pity, too, that some United fans and members of its supporters’ trust felt the need to take to the internet to make insulting, condescending comments about the attendance and about SD Galway in general. Why bother? It’s understandable for them to feel hard done by, but taking swipes at SD Galway a) won’t bring Galway United back and b) is misguided. After all, you can’t blame Salthill Devon for United’s demise.

Whatever the attendance was, SD Galway – playing in a maroon jersey with a blue and white V stripe, a token nod to Salthill Devon, which induced a few ‘Freudian slips’ in the press box when the home side were referred to as United on more than a couple of occasions – certainly put on a decent enough showing that should entice those fans back again.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.