from the galway advertiser:
A hectic few day’s action commences in Terryland Park tomorrow evening when Galway United host Kildare County in a critical First Division encounter.
On Tuesday in-form Cobh Ramblers are the visitors, while the following night Coca Cola Championship outfit Ipswich Town provide the opposition in a friendly clash.
United suffered a harrowing defeat against Athlone Town last Friday and only a victory will suffice against a Kildare side that has only won once in a half dozen games.
Indeed, Kildare have struggled to find any consistency this term, managing to hit one goal in 360 minutes. Earlier this season at Station Road, United gave Kildare a footballing lesson when Alan Murphy steered the visitors to a victory that was far more emphatic than the 2-0 scoreline suggests.
Yet there has been a touch of the erratic about United also and the Tribesmen have mixed the beguiling with the banal since that April 22 success. Unfortunately United have only emerged victorious twice in seven league matches since outclassing Kildare.
The season is entering a critical phase and this weekend’s jousts are loaded with importance. At Hogan Park, the top two Limerick FC and Shamrock Rovers collide, while on Saturday night an equally significant battle between Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers takes place.
Cobh have stitched a blistering six game winning sequence together scoring a highly creditable 17 goals during this purposeful spell.
United will need to match this kind of enterprise if they are to make a bid for league honours. Kildare will come to Terryland with limited ambition and the homesters must remain patient.
The return of Barry Moran offers some threat to the attack, while the emergence of youngster Michael Kennedy is noteworthy. Alan Gough continues to excel between the sticks, while Ronan Frawley and Billy Clery have been wonderfully consistent recently. Clery’s performance in Athlone was typically brave and resilient, while Frawley’s unfortunate red card altered the complexion of the game immensely.
With Frawley suspended it will be interesting to see how Tony Cousins reshapes his team. Alan Keane was effective when introduced against Athlone, while Frannie Carter’s versatility could see him included at the back alongside Clery. Nigel Keady’s aggression and drive is required if the team hope to climb the table. Raf Cretaro, who has returned to light training, is a notable absentee as his right wing endeavour was a salient feature of the first series of games.
The coming week will define United’s season. Kildare, Cobh, and Kilkenny City are three vital matches for the club. The Tribesmen are under serious pressure to deliver the full compliment of spoils against Kildare.
