Galway United head into daunting run of three games in eight days
Tribesmen welcome league leaders St Patrick’s Athletic to Eamonn Deacy Park tonight
Galway United won't have had the luxury of feeling sorry for themselves this week as they face into arguably the toughest eight days that they will face in the league this season.
The Tribesmen left the RSC with a point last Friday, but it felt like a defeat after the home side grabbed the equaliser with literally the last kick of the game - there wasn't even time for the restart after Dean McMenemy's goal six minutes into injury-time.
John Caulfield's side need to have shelved any self-pity over that result by the time the team bus pulled back up at the drop-off point back in Galway in the early hours of Saturday morning as they prepare for an incredibly tough week, with home games against the top two separated by a trip across the border to take on Derry City.
First up for John Caulfield's side is league leaders, St Patrick's Athletic, in Eamonn Deacy Park tonight (7.45pm); while Shamrock Rovers head west next Friday night.
In between there is the little matter of the trip north on Monday (5pm) to take on Derry City in their temporary home of Celtic Park, with the pitch being re-laid at the Ryan McBride Brandywell: it won't be the only meeting between the sides at a GAA ground this season, as United will host the Candystripes in Pearse Stadium in June when drainage work and pipe laying is taking place at Eamonn Deacy Park.
"It's a different challenge," Caulfield said of the meeting with the Inchicore side who scored a 90th-minute winner when the sides met in Richmond Park back at the start of March.
"Pats are flying, it'll be a great game for us, and for the crowd, it'll be a massive crowd there. We have to build on tonight's positive performance, it will be a busy weekend, you just have to keep picking up points," he said after last Friday's draw with Waterford at the RSC.
Arthur Parker missed last Friday's game after picking up a knock in training he day before; but there was the welcome sight of Jimmy Keohane back in the match-day squad.
United might have left Dublin empty-handed two months ago, but they won both home league games against the Saints last season; while they will look to make it back-to-back wins over Derry on Monday following the 2-1 win at EDP a month ago.
A supporters bus to Bank Holiday Monday’s game in Derry will depart from McGinns, Woodquay. Seats can be booked by contacting Kian Kenny at (087) 9404349 or Ronan Coleman at (087) 6972823.