Fortress Terryland a step closer construction
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GALWAY United captain Jay O’Shea went some way to answering his recent critics with an improved display against St Patrick's Athletic on Friday night.
O’Shea was literally let off the chain by manager Ian Foster for the first half of what eventually proved to be a 2-1 win for United, grabbing the opportunity for freedom up front with both hands, particularly for the first half an hour. Circumstance mitigated he take a quieter role as the side sought consolidation in the second half, but it was that first half flash that would have delighted the United faithful.
“He’s a young lad and I’ve given him the responsibility of captaining the side and I don’t think that pressure burdens him, I think he thrives on it,” United manager Foster said.
“I genuinely think he’s been unfortunate at times, but like every player on the team he’s doing a job for me. We can’t afford at times to play massive, expansive football, we’ve got to be in the game in the second half and then we can move Jay in certain areas where he can hurt teams.
“I’ve got no complaints with Jay, I said earlier this week that possibly creativity-wise he could give us a little bit more and I asked him that tonight before the game. He was in a position to go and hurt teams and he’s gone and done that for me.”
Galway are back in action tomorrow night with a second round EA Sports Cup game against Derry City at Terryland Park. The teams played out a 1-1 draw in their first league meeting at the Brandywell earlier this season, but Foster has a more than healthy respect for their Cup opponents.
“We train on Sunday, we’ll have a look at injuries then, but my team will be as strong as it can possibly get,” he said.
“Derry are a fantastic team and we’ll give them the respect they’re due and we’ll try to progress through to the next round of the Cup. They’ve got quality all over the pitch. I genuinely think first half up at Derry, they were the best team I’ve seen in the division, they can hurt you all over the park.”
They are likely to be without the services of Sean Kelly for Monday who was expected to have an MRI scan on possible knee ligament damage sustained during Friday’s game. Foster said Friday’s performance was a significant improvement on recent matches, although would not be drawn on the idea that the team had lifted purely due to facing former United manager Jeff Kenna, who is currently under a lot of pressure in the wake of Pat's poor start to the season.
“It comes from a belief that we can compete in this division and it comes from a willingness to put three points on the board,” Foster said.
“It’s nothing to do with who we’re playing against, regardless of who the opposition were tonight, we’re at home and I said to our players that teams are going to have to come here and work incredibly hard to get a result against us. It needs to be a fortress and it can’t be a fortress unless you work your socks off.
"I think at times we’ve been guilty of letting teams have too much possession and it’s difficult when you take that extra man out of midfield and that screen, and particularly difficult when you lose them through injury as well, so I’m delighted with the performance.”
O’Shea was literally let off the chain by manager Ian Foster for the first half of what eventually proved to be a 2-1 win for United, grabbing the opportunity for freedom up front with both hands, particularly for the first half an hour. Circumstance mitigated he take a quieter role as the side sought consolidation in the second half, but it was that first half flash that would have delighted the United faithful.
“He’s a young lad and I’ve given him the responsibility of captaining the side and I don’t think that pressure burdens him, I think he thrives on it,” United manager Foster said.
“I genuinely think he’s been unfortunate at times, but like every player on the team he’s doing a job for me. We can’t afford at times to play massive, expansive football, we’ve got to be in the game in the second half and then we can move Jay in certain areas where he can hurt teams.
“I’ve got no complaints with Jay, I said earlier this week that possibly creativity-wise he could give us a little bit more and I asked him that tonight before the game. He was in a position to go and hurt teams and he’s gone and done that for me.”
Galway are back in action tomorrow night with a second round EA Sports Cup game against Derry City at Terryland Park. The teams played out a 1-1 draw in their first league meeting at the Brandywell earlier this season, but Foster has a more than healthy respect for their Cup opponents.
“We train on Sunday, we’ll have a look at injuries then, but my team will be as strong as it can possibly get,” he said.
“Derry are a fantastic team and we’ll give them the respect they’re due and we’ll try to progress through to the next round of the Cup. They’ve got quality all over the pitch. I genuinely think first half up at Derry, they were the best team I’ve seen in the division, they can hurt you all over the park.”
They are likely to be without the services of Sean Kelly for Monday who was expected to have an MRI scan on possible knee ligament damage sustained during Friday’s game. Foster said Friday’s performance was a significant improvement on recent matches, although would not be drawn on the idea that the team had lifted purely due to facing former United manager Jeff Kenna, who is currently under a lot of pressure in the wake of Pat's poor start to the season.
“It comes from a belief that we can compete in this division and it comes from a willingness to put three points on the board,” Foster said.
“It’s nothing to do with who we’re playing against, regardless of who the opposition were tonight, we’re at home and I said to our players that teams are going to have to come here and work incredibly hard to get a result against us. It needs to be a fortress and it can’t be a fortress unless you work your socks off.
"I think at times we’ve been guilty of letting teams have too much possession and it’s difficult when you take that extra man out of midfield and that screen, and particularly difficult when you lose them through injury as well, so I’m delighted with the performance.”
