United boss Dunne seeks better discipline ahead of away tie with Rovers

HAVING praised the character of his side in recent weeks, Galway United manager Tommy Dunne has a new message for his players after picking up three red cards in three games: discipline.

United had Sam Oji sent-off against Drogheda United on Friday March 20, but after serving a one-game ban in the game against Cork City, Oji returned for last Friday’s home game with Longford Town only to see red for a second time in a game which also saw Stephen Walsh sent for an early shower.

Walsh was sent off in the 27th minute for a last-man tackle on Gary Shaw when the United were leading 1-0. Longford equalised in first-half injury-time, and scored the winner in time added-on at the end of the second-half. As Longford’s players wheeled away to celebrate, defender Pat Flynn turned back to confront Oji, who appeared to strike Flynn and as a result both players were shown a straight red card.

Walsh and Oji will miss tonight’s game against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium (8pm), but while Walsh will return for next Monday’s game against Cockhill Celtic in Eamonn Deacy Park in the EA Sprots Cup (5pm), Oji faces a prolonged spell on the sidelines.

Because last Friday was his second red card of the season, Oji has been handed a three-game ban; and he has also been handed an additional one-match ban, believed to be for comments he made on social media, possibly in relation to this tweet sent after the win over Drogheda United: “Great character & resilience showed by the boys 2night deserved 3points . . on the flipside refs should be held accountable 4 sh*t decisions”.

As a result, Dunne is missing his two first-choice centre-halves for tonight’s trip to Dublin, and he admits that has made a difficult tie even more challenging.

“Tallaght Stadium is a tough place to go and Shamrock Rovers have a very good squad who would be expected to challenge [for the title] this year, so it would be hard enough to go there with a full squad, but it will be even more tough now that we’re missing a few bodies,” Dunne said.

Given the fact Walsh and Oji are suspended – and David O’Leary has been ruled out with a knee injury – United’s chances of improving on a run of just one win in five league games look remote, especially given the squad Pat Fenlon has at his disposal.

They have a solid back four of Simon Madden, Conor Kenna, David Webster and David O’Connor; former Irish internationals Keith Fahey (16 caps) and Stephen McPhail (10 caps) form a formidable midfield partnership; and while they have struggled for goals so far, it is only a matter of time before the likes of Danny North and Kieran Waters find their range.

They are one of just three sides unbeaten this season – Dundalk and Cork City are the others – and will view tonight’s game as a banker, so United will need to be at their best, their disciplined best, to get anything from the game.

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