'Sometimes a big deal can be made about something' - Galway boss John Caulfield on last night's return to Turner's Cross

Dylan O’Connell reports from Turner’s Cross

John Caulfield was left with a lot to think about on Friday evening as his Galway United team needed a 90th minute goal to salvage a point against Cork City at Turner’s Cross.

After Stephen Walsh saw red just before half-time, the Tribesmen looked dead and buried when Jack Baxter gave City a 1-0 lead with ten minutes remaining.

Then Maurice Nugent popped up in the dying seconds of normal time to make sure Galway got a point on Leeside.

“I’m going to have to watch the game back,” John Caulfield said moments from the final whistle, 

“The game was two teams going at it. It was a physical game with two honest teams.

“The sending off looked like nothing. The way the second half went, it looked like we weren’t supposed to get anything from this game.

“When the goal went in, we thought we might lose the game. The lads kept going and went forward from tip off. We had a chance before we scored and then we got the goal.

“The lads showed great courage and character. The first third of the season is over and we need to kick on.”

This First Division clash was also Caulfield’s first game back at Turner’s Cross since he departed the Rebel Army after five and a half seasons in 2019.

“It was great to come back,” he said, “Cork is a fantastic club.

“It was a pity there were no supporters here tonight. It was great to come back though and meet the stewards, City lads, and everyone around the place helping.

“Sometimes a big deal can be made about something, I was just looking forward to the game.”

The result, in addition to other results in the league on Friday evening, mean that Galway are one point from a play-off spot.

“The teams in this league are very equal,” he assessed his team’s season so far, “You have to be on it every night. A lot of teams have improved their squads from last year.

“With Shels and City now in this league, that has made the standard higher. You will be right up at the top of you can get three or four wins together in the second part of the season.

“The most important thing for us is that when it gets to September/October, we’re in the play-off positions.”