Depleted United face huge task against title chasing Bohs
Date Published: 21-Oct-2010
Keith Kelly
GALWAY United is expecting its biggest crowd of the season in Terryland Park tonight with hundreds of Bohemians’ fans expected to travel West for a game that could see them crowned League champions for a third successive season.
With two games of the season left, Bohs are one point ahead of bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers, and if Pat Fenlon’s side pick up all three points tonight, and Rovers fail to beat Drogheda United, then the Gypsies will claim a 12th league title and put them just one behind Shelbourne and three behind Shamrock Rovers in the roll-of-honour.
It is thought they could bring between 300 and 500 fans to Terryland Park tonight in the hope of a party, but if they are to celebrate they will have to overcome a side that has had the Indian sign over them all season.
United have taken seven points out of a possible nine from meetings between the two sides this season, winning twice in Dalymount Park (3-2 in April and 2-0 in August), while the sides played out a 2-2 draw in Terryland Park in June.
However the odds are stacked against United taking anything from tonight’s game as they are without the suspended duo of Karl Sheppard and Stephen Walsh. Stephen O’Donnell and Evan Preston-Kelly are also ruled out with short-term injuries, while Ciaran Foley is unlikely to play again this season because of injury, leaving Connor with a squad of just 14 for tonight’s game.
“We’ve had very good results against Bohs this season, but in all three games we had Stephen O’Donnell and Ciaran Foley in the middle of the park and Karl Sheppard up front, and all three are missing for Friday,” said a disappointed-sounding Sean Connor yesterday.
When asked what the mood was like in the camp ahead of United’s final home game of the regular season, Connor is straight up: “It’s not good to be honest, we just want to get through the game and focus on the trip to Drogheda, where hopefully I’ll have as close as possible to a full squad to pick from, and we’ll look to build a bit of momentum for the play-off with Bray,” he said.