Early season promise fades for United

Date Published: 04-Jun-2009

TWO late goals from reigning champions Bohemians in Dalymount Park on Tuesday night condemned Galway United to their third consecutive defeat, and their sixth in eight games, but results elsewhere means Ian Foster’s side are still fifth in the table.

However, with Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers both picking up unexpected points in recent weeks, coupled with Sligo Rovers expected revival after a poor start to the season, things have
now become very tight in the bottom half of a league table that has now clearly split in two.

United were very poor against Derry City in Terryland Park last Thursday, the home side cruising to the three points courtesy of a 3-0 win that could have easily been double that. Suspension robbed United of both Garry Breen and John Russell for that game, but both players returned for the trip to Dublin on Tuesday and their presence made a big difference as Bohs struggled to break down a resolute United side.

Pat Fenlon’s side went top courtesy of the win, as Drogheda United – who are United’s opponents in Terryland Park this Friday – recorded a surprise win over Cork City, but it took them until the 72nd minute to take open the scoring, and they only got their second thanks to a last minute penalty from Jason Byrne.

Vinny Faherty was injured so Declan Edwards – who it was rumoured had left the club – started as the lone attacker, but while United played a high-tempo pressing game, they rarely threatened the goal of Brian Murphy, who surely should have been called up to the Irish set-up for Saturday’s trip to Bulgaria with all the shenanigans surrounding the goalkeeper positions in Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad.

United had started the better, but…