Padraic Cunningham: 'It shows good character from our squad I think to get an equaliser and get a point out of the game and move forward to next week'

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Padraic Cunningham was pleased with the fight shown by his side during last night’s 2-2 draw with UCD as Galway United came from behind twice at Eamonn Deacy Park.

The Tribesmen had struggled to create goals in their first three games of the season but last night they were in better form with a number of chances created.

“It’s a point gained, it shows good character from us in the game,” Cunningham said, speaking to extratime.com.

“We’re chasing games, it’s unfortunate really as it’s an unlucky second goal to give away and then we’re chasing the game with five or ten minutes to go.

“It shows good character from our squad I think to get an equaliser and get a point out of the game and move forward to next week.”

Having started the first three games, Cunningham was on the bench to begin with on Friday night as manager John Caulfield moved things around for the challenge of UCD.

The striker entered the fray with his side 2-1 down and levelled the game when he got on the end of a long throw into the box from Killian Brouder.

“It’s just John really, he said to go on and just throw yourself about like.

“I kind of know the distance of Killian’s throws, to be honest I’ve just been catching flight of it and holding my leap because I know my standing jump is a good jump.

“I was literally just flicking it on, I didn’t know how close I was to the goal really, I was just flicking it on hoping it would fly into the corner or on to someone else.

“For a personal note, you’re disappointed not to be playing every game for the team but it’s probably the formation we needed to play today and I’m delighted for Ruairí, it’s great to see him get his first goal for the club.

“I think it will give the guy huge confidence with the ability he’s shown us in training. We just have to get our heads down, get a hard week into us and head down to Cobh.

“It’s a Saturday game so we’ll just have to prepare right for the whole week. We’ve just got to go down there and fight and work hard and hopefully come out of there with something.”

Cunningham has returned to his hometown club for a second stint having spent a number of years with Galway’s senior intercounty football panel but the striker has no regrets with the change in code.

“It’s different, full time training has been of great benefit to me,” the striker noted.

“It was the right move for me and I’m really enjoying it. John, Lisa [Fallon], Colin [Fortune] and Danny [Broderick] are all really great to work under and as you can see now we’re starting to show a bit of character in our group now and hopefully that first win will come on the pitch sooner rather than later.”