United back at 2010 happy hunting ground

Date Published: {J}

Keith Kelly

GALWAY United return to the scene of their greatest win in the 2010 campaign this Friday night when they travel to Dalymount Park to take on a Bohemians side that is once again challenging at the top of the table, having taken seven points from their opening three games (kick-off 7.45pm).

Having won just three times at the ground in the previous 33 years, United took maximum points from their two visits to the Phibsboro ground last season, including a stunning 2-0 win in August in a game where United were reduced to 1-0 men before half-time after Stephen O’Donnell was sent off, and the last 15 minutes with nine men after Paul Sinnott’s 74th minute dismissal.

United also won the first meeting between the sides in Dalymount last April, Stephen O’Donnell’s injury time penalty seeing United take all three points on a 3-2 scoreline. They also took four points from a possible six at home to Bohs last season, and the failure of Pat Fenlon’s side to take more than one point from four games with United effectively cost them the league title.

Bohs were then hit with major financial problems in the close season, forcing Fenlon into releasing a number of his squad which resulted in his side’s chances of the title being written off, but Bohs opened this season with wins against Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United – admittedly, two of the sides predicted to struggle this season – before dropping their first points of the season in a scoreless draw away to Dundalk last weekend.

As for United, they got their first point of the season last Friday night, but it should have been all three only for some poor finishing and inspired goalkeeping by UCD’s Ger Barron. Alan Murphy made a welcome first start in 16 months for United in that game, but Steve Feeney limped off with a knee injury in the 10th minute and is expected to be ruled out for a number of weeks.

Feeney is United’s only injury concern, with Shaun Kelly expected to be back in contention having overcome a bout of tonsillitis, which will be welcome news for manager Sean Connor who will fancy getting a result in Dublin.

Bohs could be without former United striker Anto Flood, who picked up an injury in a friendly with Hibernians in Edinburgh on Monday night, but despite having to release the likes of Jason Byrne, Mark Quigley, Raffael Cretaro, Gareth McGlynn and Ken Oman before the start of the season, Fenlon has plenty of quality at his disposal with Killian Brennan and Mark Rossiter capable of moments of brilliance, while Chris Fagan has been to Bohs what Karl Moore has been to United.

Meanwhile United get their EA Sports Cup campaign underway in Terryland Park next Monday night when they host Donegal side Cockhill Celtic in the First Round (kick-off 7.45pm).