Stakes are high for Galway FC
GALWAY FC bring what has been a relatively disappointing third round of games for them to a close this evening when they make the long trip to the south-east to take on Wexford Youths in Ferrycarrig Park (8pm).
Having had a stuttering start to the season when taking just nine points from a possible 21, Tommy Dunne’s side made a charge up the table with a respectable 15 points from their next seven games.
Dunne said back in June that the aim was to at least match that points haul in the third round of fixtures, but the wheels have come off a little since. Galway were level on points with Longford, albeit having played a game more, when they defeated Wexford in Eamonn Deacy park on June 13, but going into this weekend’s fixtures, Tony Cousins side are now 13 points ahead of them at the top of the table and almost certainties to win the title.
“It is a big game for us against Wexford, but we are on the run-in now and every game is a big one. We need to try and keep possession of that play-off spot, and our biggest rivals in that context are Wexford, with maybe Finn Harps coming into it a little as well, so yeah, it is a big, big game for us,” Dunne told City Sport yesterday.
Galway have occupied a promotion play-off position since the ninth game of the season, a 2-0 win at home to Waterford United back in May, and Dunne says a top-three finish is the minimum requirement for his side at the end of the season.
“We have eight games left, and the goal is to get into the play-off at the end of the season. I think Longford won’t be caught now with just eight games to go, but having been there or thereabouts for so long, we have to get a top three finish,” he said.
The side will take a giant step towards that target with a win over Shane Keegan’s side, as Wexford sit just two points behind the Tribesmen, although Dunne’s side have a vastly superior goal difference. However, there has been little to separate the sides this season, and another tight contest is on the cards tonight.
Full report in this week's City Tribune.