Murphy ruled out as Galway United strive to improve poor home form

Date Published: 14-Apr-2011

Keith Kelly

GALWAY United manager Sean Connor will be looking for a positive reaction from his players to his heavy criticism of them last week when United host Derry City in Terryland Park tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

Connor laid into his side following last week’s draw with Drogheda United, branding the performance as “unacceptable” and one of the worst he has had from a side he has been in charge of.

Those comments did not go down well with a section of supporters, who question the sense in publicly berating players who are been paid less than €100 a week, but if Connor’s criticism has the desired effect tonight, his outburst will be soon forgotten.

United go into the game with poor form at home, having taken just one point – a draw with UCD – from their three games in Terryland Park this season, and they have yet to score on home turf in this campaign.

It is difficult to see how that latter statistic will be successfully addressed tonight as United will be without the services of Alan Murphy, who aggravated a groin strain against Drogheda United last Friday which he had picked up against Sligo Rovers the week before.

Murphy is one of the few United players to have shown any real creative flair in the early stages of the season, and the home side will miss his ability to unlock the opposition defence. With Gary Curran also sidelined due to a broken bone in his foot, Connor is short of experience for the middle of the park, but if he stays true to his post-match comments last week, then Eduardo Duci is likely to start alongside Sean Kelly tonight.

The Brazilian, who played with NUI Galway last year, showed plenty of eagerness when introduced for Murphy last Friday, looking for the ball and not being afraid of a tackle, and while there were some mistakes in his game, he looks the best of limited options due to the small pool of players Connor has at his disposal.

The United manager has signalled his intent to bring in new faces in the July transfer window, but that is contingent on the club generating additional cash to increase his playing budget. One of the main areas this can be achieved is through attendances, which have been relatively impressive this season, with 1,836 at the last home game, against Sligo Rovers.

However the gate is sure to take a hit tonight due to the frankly brainless situation of there being three games on in the city tonight, as Mervue United host Limerick FC in the First Division in Fahy’s Field, while Connacht play their last home game of the season against Cardiff in the Sportsground.

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