Galway FC face defining run of games

Galway FC face into a run of games over the next month that is likely to define their debut season in the League, starting with a home clash with Shelbourne tonight (7.45pm).

As Tommy Dunne puts his side through their paces in training this week, he will know that the sporadic promise of this impressive first season will be put under its most harsh spotlight over the next month, with their next games against second-placed Shels, fourth-placed Wexford Youths and league leaders Longford Town; followed by the FAI Ford Cup Third Round clash away to Dundalk.

“We’ve come through a run like that before, and we’ll come through it again. The players here know that if they want to compete with the best, then they will have games like this, but there is no doubt its tough.

“There isn’t anything really between the top five in the division, so the three points is a must against Shels if we want to maintain, and push on, our position in the table,” Dunne told City Sport yesterday.

What makes that run of games even more of a test is the fact that only tonight’s game with Shelbourne is although, given the side’s away from this season, that might be something of a blessing in disguise.

“We’ve been very good on the road but come here, were not too bad at home either. I think if you take away the two games against Longford, our performances at home have been generally decent, but we have to turn performances into results,” Dunne said.

Galway FC are the only team across the two national divisions which is unbeaten away from home in the league – their one defeat on the road came in the EA Sports Cup at the hands of Wexford Youths, and then only in the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.

Here is the rub, however – they won just three of those nine league games, and with the season now entering its last third, they can’t afford to drop many more points if they want to finish the campaign in the top three.

“There is still a lot of football to be played – we play Shels twice, Wexford twice, the two teams either side of us,” he said, adding that while good performances are important, it is the results that are crucial.