Dunne hit with two game ban as Galway host Shels
Galway FC manager Tommy Dunne has been slapped with a two-game ban after being sent from the dugout in last Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Wexford Youths.
However, the ban doesn’t come into effect until next week, meaning he will be able to take his place on the bench for tonight’s promotion play-off first leg against Shelbourne in Eamonn Deacy Park (7.45pm).
Dunne was dismissed by referee John McLaughlin in the 69th minute of last week’s game after reacting furiously to a challenge on Jake Keegan right in front of the Galway FC bench. The league’s Disciplinary Committee have handed him a two game touchline ban as a result, meaning he will miss next Friday’s second-leg in Tolka Park and, if Galway FC advance to the play-off final, the first leg of that affair. Otherwise the second of the two game ban will be served next season.
The manager is not letting the issue affect preparations for tonight’s game, which sees the Dublin club come West looking for their third win in three visits to the ground this season, a record Dunne references when suggesting the bookies have got it wrong to install his side as favourites to progress to the play-off final.
“I don’t know how the bookies came up with that to be honest. The four games between us have been tight affairs, but they have the better head-to-head record and have won twice in Eamonn Deacy Park this season.
“A lot of their players would have played in the Premier Division last season, while we are a new club with little or no Premier Division experience, although I think we have really improved as the season has gone on,” he said.
Perhaps what is shading the bookies opinion in favour of the Tribesmen is the fact they have a full squad to choose from, with both Ryan Connolly and Marc Ludden returning from suspension. Shels, on the other hand, will be without two of the players who started in the 1-1 draw between the sides a fortnight ago, with Brian Gannon and John Connolly both suspended for tonight’s game.
Add in the fact that Jordan Keegan and playmaker Gary Dempsey have both just recovered from injury, and that Galway FC have home advantage in the first leg, and it is easy to see why they have been given the nod by the odds-makers.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.