Galway United V Monaghan United

[Terry]

Mixie Harty is back in training after missing last weeks game with Cobh through injury. Colin Fortune is carrying a knock to his knee which forced him to miss training last weekend, he is receiving treatment and has returned to training.

ko:: 7.30pm, May 13th, Terryland Park

Previous meetings this season
>> League:: won 3-1(away) March 20th

[Conor H]

Only thing that can be said is that we must win.

[Terry]

Galway United return to Eircom League action tonight as Monaghan United provide the opposition at Terryland Park (7.30pm).

The first series of games have not been too encouraging for United, currently lying 10 points behind leaders Dublin City after nine games. Placed second from bottom in the standings, leaks are springing up all over the team and there is a limited supply of reliable plugs to go around. Lacking creativity, precision of execution, and a real depth of passing ambition, a serious improvement is required if premier division remains the aspiration.

Mark Herrick’s retirment and Conor Frawley’s miserable run of injuries deprive United of two wily performers. Stephen Lally must have sampled his most abject evening yet as United manager when last Friday, despite a Galwegian performance that was high on energy, the football gods smiled on Cobh Ramblers.

United struggled against Cobh's aerial bombardment as Alan Gough was ruthlessly punished for advancing from his line twice. Though the harrowing nature of the reversal was crushing, United did show some neat pockets of enterprise.

Colin Fortune provided a vivid, muscular, and dynamic display in midfield, Nigel Keady represented the heartbeat of the team with his enduring competitiveness, while Fortune, Keady, Billy Clery, and Barry Moran's ardent displays offer some hope that United can acquire a winning habit in the coming weeks.

Monaghan, hammered 5 - 0 by a well organised Dundalk team, will be eager to impress at Terryland Park. The opening day of the season will be remembered for an electric John Russell cameo when Galway outwitted Monaghan 3-1 at Century Homes Park. Moran notched a brace of opportunistic goals, while the nifty Kevin Williamson opened his Galwegian account with an assured strike against the Tribesmen who sauntered clear once Russell arrived on the pitch midway through the second half.

Russell brought drive and a little bit of flamboyance to the team which Monaghan failed to contain. Though Monaghan suffered a humiliating defeat against Dundalk the Ulster club recovered somewhat from the Galway and are currently a point ahead of the Westerners in the table.

Sligo Rovers and Cobh Ramblers have already departed Terryland Park with victories in 2005. If Monaghan United add their name to this list, Galwegians can forget about a sustained push for promotion. It is high time for the Tribesmen to deliver a substantial performance as the season enters a crucial phase. A home victory would inject some confidence into the players who know a significant improvement is required.

[DonO'Bate]

Brutal match, woeful performance. We should have won the game, Barry's miss inside the first minute proved crucial. How he missed after he took the ball around the goalkeeper I'll never know. I haven't seen a United player miss a chance like that since Neil "Hilda" Ogden's miss against Athlone Town in the Cup a few seasons ago. Speaking of which we simply have to win in Golden Island Park next Friday night.