First step in Galway's grand ambitions awaits as Caulfield eyes title
PURPLE PATCH: Galway United Manager John Caulfield. Pic: INPHO/Evan Treacy
A clash of top against bottom dominates Friday’s League of Ireland storybook with Galway United’s return to the Premier Division deserving of the status.
John Caulfield’s side have led the First Division title race from the off in February, losing along the golden trail just twice in 30 matches, ironically both at Longford Town.
Avoid defeat at league newcomers Kerry and the trophy is theirs with five games to spare. Caulfield will be back in the top-flight four years on from being sacked as manager of Cork City, the club he led to the 2017 double.
That was the year Galway United last inhabited the upper tier and they’ve steadily regained ground, one of the few First Division clubs to operate a full-time set-up.
They could smash the 90-point barrier with five wins and a draw over their run-in – with a potential FAI Cup to follow if they overcome Bohemians at home on October 7. Under new owners Luke and Brian Comer, Galway hold their own ambitions of competing at the business end of the Premier too.
The local billionaires committed in their pitch to buy the club from the members 18 months ago with an initial annual investment of €500,000. Their plans to develop the Mountain South site in Athenry into a “world-class” facility superior to Arsenal’s London Colney, however, struck a hitch at the first phase of planning.
That quest can wait while the business is completed on the pitch. Kerry felt the full wrath of Galway’s strength by losing 9-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park four games into life in the league but the closeness of the most recent meeting, a 1-0 triumph for the Tribesmen, suggests the gulf is closing.
"We know the great improvements Kerry have made,” noted Caulfield. “They've become really difficult to beat the last few months. We know this will be a massive game for them and they're very competitive, but at the same time we know we're on the verge of winning the league if we can get a result. We're looking forward to going to Tralee."
Galway could even afford an unlikely loss and complete the job, if Waterford slip up at Longford Town. That’s not an unreasonable prospect, given the Blues’ recent form. The Tribemen’s closest rivals have won just one of their last four, losing at home to Cobh Ramblers last week.
Longford, too, have four points to make up in the final six games to overhaul Wexford for the final playoff spot. Second face fifth, third play fourth, with the winner of the final due to meet the second-last Premier team for a spot in the 2024 top-flight.
Elsewhere tonight, Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic cannot afford the drop points if they’re to threaten a four-in-row of titles for Shamrock Rovers.
Last Friday Derry came within a few minutes of closing the gap on the Hoops to a point but the draw between the rivals means they require a faultless final furlong and other teams to topple Rovers for a twist to unfold.
“Its out of our hands now but we must concentrate on this tough game at Sligo Rovers,” City manager Ruaidhrí Higgins said about the final north-west derby of the year.
St Pat’s have no margin of error either. They host Dundalk on Friday and are at home again on Monday for their game in hand over Rovers and Derry against Drogheda United.
"There is loads of football to be played but, being brutally honest, I'm not looking beyond Dundalk,” said Saints manager Jon Daly.
“We watched the FAI Cup draw and then that was it, we put it to bed, and focus is now fully on Dundalk. There's a lot of football coming up, plenty of excitement and meaningful games that will hopefully put us in the positions that we want to be in. When you come to the business end of the season, you want to be in the hunt for things. Our home form has been very good.”
Shelbourne v Cork City, Tolka Park; Drogheda United v Bohemians, Weavers Park; St Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk, Richmond Park; Sligo Rovers v Derry City, Showgrounds; UCD v Shamrock Rovers, Belfield Bowl.
Cobh Ramblers v Finn Harps, St Colman’s Park; Kerry FC v Galway United, Mounthawk Park; Longford Town v Waterford FC, Bishopsgate; Treaty United v Athlone Town, Markets Field; Wexford v Bray Wanderers, Ferrycarrig Park.
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