Only UCD stand between Utd and survival

Date Published: 14-Nov-2008

THE end of a turbulent season for Galway United comes tonight when they travel to Belfield to take on a relegated UCD side and knowing that a win will ensure they don’t join Pete Mahon’s side in the First Division next season (kick-off 7.35pm, live on RTÉ2).

When Jeff Kenna took over as manager of a United side rooted to the bottom of the table and five points adrift of safety with just one fifth of the season gone, he said he wanted to go into the last game of the season still in the mix to avoid the drop — the bonus tonight is that, not only are United within touching distance of safety, their destiny is in their own hands.

Win in Belfield for the second time this season and United will avoid relegation, no matter what Finn Harps or Cobh Ramblers achieve their games at home to Shamrock Rovers and away to Derry City respectively.

Realistically, Cobh are doomed, a vastly inferior goal difference to United meaning they need a miracle to stay up, leaving it as a straight shoot-out between United and Harps to avoid relegation.

United have the upper hand after routing Paul Hegarty’s side last week, that 3-0 win meaning they are a point ahead of Harps in the table, so United only need to match the Donegal side’s result tonight to ensure safety.

Kenna, who has a full squad to choose from tonight, said he doesn’t intend keeping in touch with proceedings in Ballybofey, but with United expected to bring in the region of 500 fans to the game, he won’t be long in finding out what is happening 150 miles away in the north west.

“If we win, it doesn’t matter what any of ther rest do, we’ll stay up so that is all that concerns me. I don’t intend keeping in touch with the other games — I’m sure I will be told what is ….