Mid Season Report Card - Galway United

Club: Galway United

Manager: Tommy Dunne

Stadium: Eamonn Deacy Park

Highest attendance this season: 1,627 vs. Bray Wanderers (March 11^th).

Highest league goalscorer: Vinny Faherty (8).

Mid-season position: 6^th.

How we thought they would do

From the outset Galway’s main objective would have been to improve on last season’s survival feat. So a mid-table finish would have been acceptable to most loyal fans of the Tribesmen and the hope for another good run in either of the cup competitions. This season marks the 25th anniversary of their one and only FAI Cup Win back in 1991 when Johnny Glynn scored that famous goal for the Westerners.

How they really have done

In the league they have performed beyond expectations, taking 18 points from the first series of games, kicking the season off with an excellent 3-1 away against St Pat’s. However, they have since slipped back with only four points from their series two games and only one win in eight games since the end of April, that being away to Bray in mid-May.

They have also exited both cups, losing away to Limerick (EA Sports Cup) and Bohemians (FAI Cup), so no cup run this season to fall back on, but they are still very much in the running for a Europa League spot. United were 2-0 up at home against a struggling Longford at the end of April.  However, the game ended in a 2-2 draw and since then only that away win over another struggling side Bray Wanderers has yielded a full three points.

Moment of the season so far

A 3-1 away defeat of St Patrick’s Athletic, as goals from Vinny Faherty, John Sullivan and Enda Curran saw them provide the shock result on the opening night of the new season, with their only win over the five sides ahead of them in the table.

Star Player: Vinny Faherty

It has to be the league’s top scorer who has bagged eight goals in the opening 15 games on his return to his hometown club. His goal scoring has been a massive positive, particularly having lost the popular American Jake Keegan, who signed for the Canada based NASL side FC Edmonton in the close season. Faherty’s goals will be vital to any further progress this season, but worryingly he hasn’t hit the net in the last seven games.  His last goals came as he opened the scoring in that 2-2 draw with Longford.

Surprise star player: Kevin Devaney

Devaney, who was signed from Sligo Rovers in the off season he has provided a real threat from the left wing when he has played for the Tribesmen, chipping in with two goals.  However, the ex-Bohs man has missed a number of recent games through injury, and Tommy Dunne will want him fully fit after the mid-season break.

Young player: Ruairi Keating

The 20 year-old, who arrived from rivals Sligo Rovers in the off-season has done well when select so far this campaign.

Keating, who has scored twice this season, has played both up front and in midfield this season, making him an attractive option for United boss Tommy Dunne.

Star signing: Stephen Folan

Another player who has returned to his hometown club, the former Newcastle Utd player has been excellent in the games he has played as he too was out for a number of games with  back and toe injuries. When he has played, he has added a more solid look to the Galway back four, particularly in the 2-2 home draw with Cork City and the two opening game wins over St Pat’s and Bray, as well as last weekend’s draw with Derry City.

What they need to do in the transfer market

 With an injury list which currently has Padraic Cunningham, Stephen Walsh and Colm Horgan on the treatment table, all key players in Tommy Dunne’s squad; some additions to strengthe the managers hand would be welcome. But as is the case with almost all Airtricity League clubs, this will depend on whether the club’s board can afford to increase the playing budget or release players to allow others in. In Galway’s case, will they gamble on getting into a Europa spot by adding to the wage bill or will they be happy to stick with what they have got and hope to get players back to full fitness and push on?

Where we see them finishing

They have not been overawed or out played by any side and could possibly have had another six to eight points with a bit of luck.  If they can raise their form and get back to the level of their first series of games, then they could easily be in the top four at the season’s end but that will all depend on Vinny Faherty continuing to hit the net on a regular basis and another player or two chipping in with a few goals to ease the pressure on the striker.

Four tough games: away to Bohemians, home to Shamrock Rovers and away to both Finn Harps and Cork City on the resumption of the league should tell a lot. At least a relegation battle does not look on the cards and a consolidation of last season’s first season back in the Premier Division should be achieved with relative ease from their current position.