Utd must make most of visitors busy schedule

Date Published: {J}

Keith Kelly

If ever a game has a scoreless draw written all over it, it is this Sunday’s Airtricity Premier Division clash between Galway United and Dundalk in Terryland Park (kick-off 7pm). So, Murphy’s Law being what it is, there will probably be a goalfest!

United have failed to find the net in their last two games; they have won just once in their last eleven league outings, and are without any recognised strikers for the clash with their former boss, Ian Foster. Dundalk come into the game having lost five of their last six league games, and had conceded 13 goals in their last three in all competitions before last night’s Europa League second-leg clash with Levski Sofia.

“We are missing Karl [Sheppard] through suspension, and we are trying to get Jason Molloy ready for the game but he hasn’t played all season and so would not be match fit. Rhys [Meynell] is also a major doubt with a foot injury, and with such a small squad, missing players is a big blow, but it gives the chance for some of the younger lads to come and stake their claim for a place.

“We played very well against Shamrock Rovers, we dominated midfield but didn’t get anything from the game. That display gives us great confidence, but I’d settle for an uninspired performance and a 1-0 win on Sunday if I am totally honest.

“If we win, I really think it makes Dundalk catchable, and it sets us up nicely for the game against UCD the following week. If we can win our next two games, it really gives us a lift and a great chance to get out of the bottom three,” United manager Sean Connor said yesterday.

With Sheppard out and Molloy likely to only make the bench at best, Connor is likely to start Bobby Ryan and Tom King up front on Sunday, although Ryan is one of two players believed to be holding negotiations with United with a view to having their contracts terminated.

Anto Flood and Cian McBrien left the club by mutual consent last week, and James Creaney followed them out the door this week. Connor is talking to two other players – believed to be Bobby Ryan and Thomas Heary – about leaving as well, although any move on that will be stalled until after the weekend due to the shortage in numbers for Sunday’s game.

Connor is believed to have spoken to one locally-based player this week about joining United, but that deal is now dead in the water after the player’s present club sought compensation for the underage training they did with him – as they were perfectly entitled to do – but the financial situation at United means they could not afford to make such a payment.

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