Squad spirit key to solid start

Keith Kelly

Galway United head into tonight’s Connacht derby with Sligo Rovers in Terryland Park hoping to break a kangaroo run of results which has seen them win and lose alternate games in their last six outings (kick-off 7.45pm).

Anto Flood and Karl Sheppard grabbed the United goals in a 2-0 win over Bray Wanderers in the Carlisle Grounds, and United need to start putting back-to-back wins together to further climb up the table - a win tonight will see them pull five points clear of Sligo, although Paul Cook’s side do have a game in hand.

Given the fact they have one of the smallest budgets in the league, many had predicted a season of serious struggle for United, but they sit mid-table going into tonight’s game, thanks in no small part to the goals of Flood and Sheppard, who are fast forming a double act not seen in the top flight in the United jersey since the days of Jumbo Brennan and Donie Farragher in the 1990s.

“To have people say that is very flattering, we are both really enjoying our time here and we are starting to gel together, to get to know each other’s game and develop a good understanding, and it is really coming together now,” says Sheppard, who is a alight doubt for tonight with a hamstring injury.

That does not necessarily mean he will miss the game – a number of the squad have played through the pain barrier this season as a shortage in numbers means there is  a massive strain on playing resources, and in fact  Sheppard was struggling from the first minute on Friday night.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.