High flying United chasing third league win on the trot in Drogheda

GALWAY United go in search of their third consecutive Premier Division victory – and fourth win on the trot – when they travel to face Drogheda United at United Park this evening, Friday (7:45pm).

Following a remarkable 5-3 win over Bohemians at Éamonn Deacy Park last Friday – followed by a 1-0 extra-time victory over the same opposition at the same venue in the EA Sports Cup on Monday – Tommy Dunne’s outfit has been riding the crest of a wave.

With the offensive quartet of Enda Curran, Padraig Cunningham, Jake Keegan and Ryan Connolly – all of whom netted in the 5-3 league victory over Bohemians – in sparkling form at present, Galway should be confident heading to face a Drogheda side that is languishing four points behind them in the table . . . and Galway United have a game in hand!

That said, manager Dunne is not getting carried away by his charges fine run of late – a run which has also included a victory away to Derry City. “We have done okay. We just need to try and keep it going if we can, which is easier said than done,” he remarks.

The contrast of their last two games could not be as stark. The league tie against Bohemians turned out to be an eight-goal fest while the Cup meeting three days later proved to be a dour struggle, which Dunne’s men won after extra-time 1-0. Two very different fixtures.

“Yeah, the league tie was a game where two teams went at each other and we attacked like hell. So, it was an open game where the Cup game was a bit more subdued,” says Dunne. “We started that league game like a house on fire and just kept going. The only disappointment was we gave away a few silly goals. Other than that, I think we were good for the win.”

Indeed, the concession of three goals, including a penalty, must be a worry. Dunne believes though these were more down to individual errors rather than being weak structurally. “They could have been avoided,” he adds. “So, it wasn’t like we were opened up too much but we can still improve on that.

“We will need to improve on that because it is going to get a bit tighter as the season goes on. So, we just got to make sure that we tidy up on that aspect of our play.”

In all, Galway has conceded 24 goals to date in their 13 league games while Drogheda has coughed up 25 in 14 outings. So, defensively, both sides have a great deal of work, particularly when the teams around them, namely Longford Town and Derry City, have conceded less than 20.

Galway’s strength though has been their attack, with none of the six teams below them coming near their goal tally of 19. “Jake (Keegan), Enda (Curran) and Padraic (Cunningham) would be all different types of players and they are all giving us something in the way that they play. So, we are delighted,” says Dunne.

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