Derby clash brings together two clubs in different places

Keith Kelly

GALWAY United travel to the north-west tomorrow night to take on provincial rivals Sligo Rovers (kick-off 7.45pm) in what is the final Connacht derby of the season. And possibly the last one for a number of years.

Just 90 miles separates Terryland Park from the Showgrounds, but it will be a case of two different worlds colliding tomorrow night: the league leaders against the basement club, with 55 points separating the sides in the league table; the meanest defence against the most woeful attacking force; a side that has found the net 54 times this season against one that has conceded 92 goals in 31 games, and has kept just two clean sheets in 33 League and Cup games.

All the pointers are for a Sligo victory, and few will bet against Paul Cook’s side taking another step towards the club’s first League title since the 1976/77 season, the year before United even entered the league.

United’s aspirations are much more simple – try and build some confidence ahead of the relegation play-off in November, and avoid the humiliation suffered in Terryland Park back in July in the last meeting between the sides, when the visitors thrashed United 8-0, the club’s heaviest-ever defeat in their 35 seasons in the League.

However there is a new broom sweeping through United these days, and while Jumbo Brennan has had only two games in charge, there a already a stark difference to the side’s style of play under his tenure than was the case not only under Sean Connor, but the likes of Ian Foster and Tony Cousins as well – one of ‘hoof and hope’.

While United were outplayed by Bohemians last Friday night, the players at least tried to keep the ball on the deck, playing the ball out from the back and string a few passes together, rather than kicking away possession every time a bit of pressure came on.

“It’s all about keeping possession. Keep possession and you make the other team work hard, if you keep kicking the ball away, you give them possession and get knackered trying to chase after the ball, so make the other team work,” Brennan said after the game.

It is United’s work ethic that will come under scrutiny in the home of the league leaders, and Brennan has to shuffle his pack from last weekend as Stephen Walsh is suspended, while Yob Son also misses out after picking up a dead leg in training on Tuesday night.Son’s absence is likely to see Eric Browne coming into the starting XI in a straight-forward swap, while Bobby Ryan could move to the wing to replace Walsh, with Sean Kelly returning to the side for his first start since June.

Kelly came through 20 minutes last Friday in his first game back since picking up what was described at the time as a season-ending cruciate injury against Dundalk back in June, and his physical presence will be needed in midfield.

Mikey Gilmore was a threatening presence when introduced for the last 30 minutes last week, while Jingu Kim is also back in contention after a hamstring injury, giving Brennan some options for the game.It is not just United who have been affected by suspension and injuries, and the impact of Sligo is arguably more serious as the spine of their team has been severely hit with central defender Jason McGuinness and the league’s second-highest scorer, striker Eoin Doyle, both ruled out through injury; while captain and midfield powerhouse Richie Ryan is suspended.

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