Set-piece failings continue to haunt United

Galway United 1

Shamrock Rovers 2

Galway United’s failure to deal with set pieces cost them once again on Friday night – unless they address this weakness, and soon, then they could be on a fast-track back to the backwaters of the First Division next season.

Almost half of the goals United have conceded in the league this season have come from set-pieces – 15 of 31 goals, not including two penalties – and it was from two free-kicks that Shamrock Rovers scored on Friday night, enough to see them take all three points. After the game, team captain Ryan Connolly said the issue had “gne beyond a joke at this stage”.

United haven’t been helped by having to constantly chop and change their back four, while the position of goalkeeper was still very much open until the last couple of weeks. Conor Winn looks to have nailed down that jersey now, especially with the departure of Connor Gleeson last week. He didn’t get much protection from a couple of ball-watching team-mates on Friday night, so he needs to start demanding more from those in front of him as well as dominating his area.

Maybe United could do with some of the Garda dogs on duty at the ground on Friday night – goodness knows who those in charge of security were expecting to attend the game, but the sight of the Garda Dog Unit, and the effective ‘caging-in’ of the visiting supporters, appeared to be completely over the top.

United and Rovers fans have a good rapport, and I can’t remember any trouble between fans of the two clubs, especially in Galway. Other clubs, maybe, but not Rovers. Galway United has always had a welcome for other fans, let’s hope that welcome has not been tarnished by Friday’s heavy-handed display of security.

While those measures raised some eyebrows, so too did the decision to start new signing Colm O’Donovan on the left wing. The signing from Athenry FC had a disappointing debut before being hauled off at half-time, and you have to question the wisdom of throwing a junior league player into the fray against top-three opposition like Shamrock Rovers.

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