Galway FC hope to achieve next phase of revival and follow in Dundalk's footsteps

JUST TWELVE MONTHS after their formation, Galway FC face the biggest week in their brief, yet complex, history.

Following the demise of Galway United two years ago, the club’s Supporters Trust formed an alliance with the county’s two other Airtricity League sides – Mervue United and Salthill Devon – to merge and become a single entity.

The club, which only entered the League of Ireland at the start of this season, are now just two games away from a return to the top table of Irish football.

Standing in their way is an UCD side who managed to stay afloat, for the time being anyway, by the skin of teeth. A run of twelve games without victory had Aaron Callaghan’s side in free fall but the Students rallied just as Athlone began to breath down their necks.

They finished the campaign with back-to-back victories against Derry City and Drogheda and now have a chance at redemption. Much like this week is a defining juncture in Galway’s history, it is an equally significant one for UCD.

Relegation to the First Division – often referred to as the graveyard of Irish football – would have detrimental ramifications for a club underpinned by an ethos to give a rich footballing education to the next generation. It could be argued their demotion would have up shots for the league as a whole.

But, in a week when Dundalk’s endearing journey from the brink of submersion to Premier Division champions won over hearts and minds, Galway FC will hope to follow in the Lilywhites’ footsteps and complete the next phase of their own revival.

Vinny Faherty has scored eight goals this season for the Tribesmen Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

To get to this point is an achievement in itself. As the new season drew ever closer, an agreement between the several parties was still proving hard to come by. Much like most aspects of the League of Ireland, it was a complicated process.

As it was, a debut season, during which they finished third, under the tutelage of former Cork City boss Tommy Dunne may yet end in fairy tale fashion. Dunne knows all about withstanding times of hardship and working with limited resources from his time at Turner’s Cross and he knows the significance of Monday’s first leg in Belfield.

“Playing against UCD on Monday will bring up a different set of circumstances and challenges. I hope we can deal with them. We will do our best to keep fully concentrated over the 180 minutes or whatever it may be,” he said.

“With them being the Premier Division club I’d imagine they’re favourites, but we’re hoping we can achieve our goal of trying to get promoted. They’re going be tight games. I don’t think there’s going be much between the teams over the two legs.”

UCD are without the suspended Robbie Benson for tonight's first leg Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

The visitors will be without Aaron McDonagh through injury and there are doubts over the fitness of Stephen Walsh and Alex Byrne.

UCD, meanwhile, have problems of their own. Both Robbie Creevy and Robbie Benson are suspended for the first leg having accumulated four yellow cards while Dean Clarke remains in the treatment room.

The hosts are under no illusions of the task they face to retain their Premier Division status for next season.

“Galway will be full of confidence going into this play-off having just beaten Shelbourne, however after two clean sheets and two wins in a row the players are in good form and their confidence has returned,” Callaghan said.

The two sides met in the FAI Cup earlier in the year with Galway FC upsetting the odds by knocking the Students out. With the second-leg taking place on Halloween night, UCD will be hoping to head West with an advantage and avoid being given a real scare.

SEE Airtricity League Relegation/Promotion Play-off

• First-leg, Monday 27th October, UCD Bowl, 7.45pm.
• Second-leg, Friday 31st October, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm.

Opinion: Why Mourinho’s Chelsea will never match the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’

David Villa’s spell in Australia has come to a premature end