United's injury crisis deepens

GALWAY United manager Sean Connor is facing a major injury crisis ahead of what is a hectic period for the team, with four games in the next 12 days, starting with league champions Bohemians in Dalymount Park tonight (kick-off 7.35pm) in a game being televised live on RTE2.

Connor could be missing up to eight players – almost half of the first team squad – for tonight’s game, including both goalkeepers, and Connor is furious with the FAI for refusing him permission to sign an emergency ‘keeper.

United were forced to play left back Rhys Meynell in goals on Tuesday night in the 3-2 loss to Derry City in the EA Sports Cup as both Barry Ryan (knee) and Seamus Friel (thigh) were ruled out through injury. The club had sought permission from the FAI to bring in a goalkeeper on an emergency basis, but Connor says this request was refused, a claim backed up by a spokesperson for the FAI.

“That is correct, we refused Galway United permission to sign another player, as to do so would see them in breach of their agreed budget, and we won’t allow clubs breach their budget.

“To sign a player now, with the transfer window closed, clubs have to do two things: prove the player in question is out of work, and ensure the signing will not see the club breach their budget. Galway United were refused permission to sign a player as it would have seen them breach their budget,” the spokesperson said.

When it was put to him that a goalkeeper is a specialist position, and could an exception not be made because of this, the spokesperson was adamant no such allowance could be made.

“It is a FIFA ruling that when you sign someone professionally, it has to be until the end of the season, so Galway United will need to free up the money somewhere else to sign any new players. They could sign a player on amateur forms, but again, only if that player is out or work – they cannot sign someone registered with a junior club until the end of the junior season,” the spokesperson said.

As well as Ryan and Friel, Connor is also sweating over the fitness of Paul Sinnott (chest), Derek O’Brien (stomach), Stephen O’Donnell (knee), Thomas Heary (knee) and Jamie McKenzie (leg). Gary Curran (leg) and Alan Murphy (knee) are definitely ruled out, while Seamus Conneely and Ciaran Foley were both away with the Irish Universities team this week, and Connor is keeping his fingers crossed that they will return unscathed.

Bohemians collected full points from Galway last season, scoring 11 goals – including five in a drubbing in Dalymount Park in August – and not conceding any, but the home side have some injury worries of their own, with Anto Murphy and Stephen Gray (both Achilles) and Mark Rossiter (hamstring) all expected to miss out.

There will be no rest for United as they face Dundalk in Terryland Park this coming Monday (kick-off 7.45pm) in a game rearranged following the postponement of the original clash two weeks ago because of a waterlogged pitch at Terryland Park.