Fit-again Curran is available for visit of Waterford United in critical tie for Galway FC

AMAZING how the mood has changed after just two games. Suddenly, a Galway FC side whose promotion ambitions seemed to have faded is right back in the hunt for a play-off place and the final push begins with the visit of Waterford United to Eamon Deacy Park this evening (Friday, 7.45pm).

Having shocked First Division leaders Longford Town in their own back yard two weeks ago, before producing a resolute defensive display as ‘no hopers’ against Premier Division front-runners Dundalk in the FAI Cup last weekend, Galway are right back in the mix with just six games to go.

If the 2-1 win in Longford came as a surprise, the spirited resistance in Dundalk – where the visitors were not given a prayer before losing by the same scoreline – has transformed the mood in the squad and banished the memories of back-to-back defeats in the previous two games.

Galway were given a standing ovation by the Dundalk fans for defending so valiantly last Friday night, after 17-year old substitute Padraic Cunningham gave the home side a huge scare by finding the target nine minutes from the end.

Now the fate of Tommy Dunne’s side is firmly in their own hands and they go into this weekend’s tie as firm favourites to overcome a Waterford side who were outclassed in a 2-0 defeat on their previous visit to Terryland in May.

But Dunne admits they will have to be more adventurous this weekend, after lying deep for much of the Cup tie at Oriel Park.

“We had a certain way of playing in Dundalk and one or two little things let us down,” admitted Dunne this week. “We could have at least brought them back to Eamon Deacy Park for a replay, but would we have deserved it? I don’t know. Dundalk are a really good outfit, but I thought our players acquitted themselves very well.

“We will have a completely different mindset for the Waterford game. We have got to look to win the match but, in fairness, we have tried to win every match in the division this season. But last Friday showed us that we are capable of being a little bit more solid at the back.”

Cup-tied defender Paddy Barrett is back in contention for a starting place tonight, having played for Waterford earlier in the campaign; while striker Ryan Manning also looks set to start after picking up a knock in Longford two weeks ago.

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