Search Results for 'Jeff Kenna'

Only the gifted can truly charm a football audience. While there is always much to admire in a flying full-back, crafty centre half, tidy midfielder, or an opportunistic frontrunner, the skilful artist is the favoured protagonist. That is exactly why Jay O’Shea is capturing the hearts of Terryland Park regulars.

Galway United emerged from Saturday night’s tie with Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds with another valuable point in their bid to escape the drop thanks to Jay O’Shea’s 75th-minute penalty. While United’s unbeaten run has now stretched to six games, this was definitely a case of a point gained rather than two points dropped.

It is peculiar how football in the rickety, old grounds stirs the soul. The Showgrounds is one of those venues. While the Shed has been dismantled, an appreciative audience still gathers every fortnight in the garrison town to see how Sligo Rovers are faring. There is no diluting the importance of the Bit O’Red to the north western psyche. Rovers matter. Simple as.

A trip to the banks of the Camac can bring delight or disaster. Galway United experienced the former 16 months ago when Derek Glynn notched a double of rare beauty. That was Galway’s prettiest performance in a half dozen years. Can a comparable display be summoned tomorrow?

Armed with hope and confidence, Galway United will be anxious to maintain the resilience levels that has seen a half-dozen match unbeaten sequence stitched together at such a critical juncture of the campaign.

Amidst a welter of expectation and pressure, a resurgent Galway United extended their unbeaten run to seven in magnificent fashion in Terryland Park on Friday night. The class and confidence which oozed from the home team belied their precarious league position, the deserved four-goal rout lifting them now to a position where a win over St Patrick’s Athletic tonight should lift them out of the drop zone.

So there is still scope for Galway United to remain a full-time footballing outfit. That much was proved in Terryland Park on Friday. Suddenly United’s existence is meaningful again. A seven-match unbeaten sequence offers confidence and evidence that the club can prosper in Premier Division company.

Crucial contests and Galway United has been the 2008 cocktail. Two more will be added to the list in the next six days. A trip to Richmond Park for a combat with St Patrick’s Athletic and an FAI Cup semi-final with Derry City are brimful of importance. When such matches are arriving thick and fast a footballer’s life glimmers with possibility.

For teams vexed by league pressures cup competitions are a welcome break, but tomorrow's Terryland Park tussle between Galway United and Athlone Town should not be short on incident or intrigue.

The Streets of Galway 8k road race continues to be a success story on the Irish athletic calendar.