Dara Bradley

GALWAY United return to Premier Division action at Terryland tonight (7.45pm) when they host second from top St Patrick’s Athletic, a side they have lost to on the three occasions they squared-off this season.

United go into the clash high on confidence on the back of a comprehensive derby win in the cup over Salthill Devon on Monday night at Drom, but manager Sean Connor has a depleted squad due to suspension, injuries and the departure of players such as Anto Flood, Bobby Ryan and Thomas Heary back in July.

Assistant manager Gareth Gorman admits United are down to “the bare bones” and they will have to have five U20s on the bench for the visit of the Dublin outfit.Seamus Conneely pulled through the Salthill match fine after coming back from injury and will be okay to start but Ciaran Foley (ankle) and Rhys Meynell (hamstring) remain on the treatment table.

Midfielder Gary Curran is suspended having accumulated a number of bookings in the past few matches and he is not back until next week. Curran’s absence means either Shane Keogh or Philip Reilly will get the nod to start while the other starting 10 should be as per Monday.

Gorman says progression in the Cup is only a bonus and the main focus is on surviving in top flight and avoiding the relegation play-offs. Still, the financial rewards of drawing Shamrock Rovers away in the last eight of the Cup has not gone unnoticed by the bean counters at Terryland.