United look to continue run of good results at Dalymount

Galway United head for Dalymount Park tonight (7.45pm) hoping to carry some momentum from their EA Sports Cup win over Finn Harps on Monday to a venue which has been less than a happy hunting ground for the Tribesmen over the years.

United have won on just six of their 35 visits to the traditional home of Irish football – although they have won three of their last four at the Phibsboro venue – and with Bohemians setting the early pace after last week’s 3-0 win over Limerick FC, manager Tommy Dunne knows his side is in for another tough game.

“We’re in the Premier Division and there are no easy games, and we know we have another tough test on Friday night. It was great to get the win over Finn Harps, who look stronger than last season, but with all respect to them, Bohemians will be a very different test.

“Their players will have a little more guile than Finn Harps that will test you in different aspects of the game. It will be a very different to the one we faced against Harps, and we need to be up for it – we will be up for it,” Dunne said.

While securing the win over the Donegal side on Monday night was obviously pleasing, Dunne seemed more relieved that his side came through the game without any injuries, though Sam Oji – who scored on his debut against Derry City on Friday night – did limp off just past the hour mark.

“Sam is okay, he felt a bit of tightness in his quad so there was no point in risking him, we took him off straight away but he should be okay for Friday. Andy O’Connell came in for Sam and gave a good account, and we are slowly getting to where I want us to be,” Dunne said.

While O’Connell did well, the star of the show on Monday night was Jason Molloy. The United winger has undoubted bags of talent and ability, but sometimes struggles to show that. However, Dunne says his fitness is improving all the time and he is delighted with how the winger is performing in training.

“Jay had a bit of a knock so he is only coming back from that, but I am delighted with the way he is working both on the training pitch and in the gym.

“We have always said there is no question about his ability, it’s just to get him up to the physical aspect of the Premier Division and if we get him up to that, we’ll have a real player. His footwork and his balls into the box on Monday night was excellent, he has been working really hard and I’m delighted with him,” Dunne said.

When Owen Heary departed as manager at the end of last season, and took Bohs top-scorer Dinny Corcoran with him to Sligo Rovers, there was talk that the side that finished seventh in the Premier Division last season would struggle in the new campaign.

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