Galway United player-boss Alan Murphy: 'There are five big games to go - there'll be loads of twists and turns'

Galway United player-manager was happy with his side's performance as they head into a tough stretch of games on the back of a 3-2 win over Cabinteely.

The 36-year-old was tired coming off the pitch after his side defeated edged out Cabo at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night to keep alive their hopes of securing a spot in the playoffs.

“It’s a performance and it’s a win,” Murphy told extratime.ie.

“We made it hard for ourselves in the end but I think we were the better side being honest. We created a lot more chances and another night it could have been finished earlier.

“I can’t ask for any more from my players they’ve worked hard and played good stuff at times but maybe not throughout the whole game.”

He added: “Next Friday to Drogheda is a big game again, and they’re all big games now. There are five big games to go. There’ll be loads of twists and turns but we’ll only take it one game at a time.

“We’ll take it a game at a time and then we’ll look at the results that weekend and see how we are in shape. I don’t know any of the results tonight and I don’t really care until I sit down and get a cool down.

“[I'll] have a look at our own performance fist and see how we can improve and then have a look at next week.

“It’s all about performances. Performance will equal result. We won’t be thinking we have to win every game, to be honest.

“We’ll just be thinking about the next game and then re-evaluate after every weekend and see where we are. Can we still be in the shake up going to Shels last game of the season?

“That’s the plan and if we are we are and if not it won’t be from the lack of preparation, endeavour, performance, the want for a good performance and doing the right thing week in and week out.”

Conor Barry scored two for The Tribesmen tonight and the manager was full of praise for the young midfielder.

“Conor would say it himself that I’ve been his biggest fan since day one, always in his ear even when I was just a player. In terms of his confidence and his ability it’s second to none.

“You see how he got us back in the lead tonight. He’s only improving [and] he’s got a load more improving to do. When he does the one and two touch stuff he’s very difficult to pick up.

“He has a huge future ahead, he just needs to work hard and keep going every week. He’s got youth on his side - unfortunately we don’t all!

“I’d be a little bit in awe of him to be honest, he’s a great lad off the pitch. Its a pleasure to be managing him and playing with him.”

This was Murphy’s fourth game in charge of the team since taking over after the departure of Shane Keegan and Gary O’Connor.

It was also the first game that he played the full 90 minutes since taking on the new role at the club with his assistant, and former Tribesman Mark Herrick in the dugout.

“I thought it worked okay tonight. We had our preparation done in terms of what we needed to do if we wanted to make subs and that. It’s a work in progress. It’s not a science, it’s week in and week out.

“There’s no better person to have around than Mark Herrick. He’s an absolute gent and knows the game inside out, cares about the game.

“Myself and Mark are many a long night talking about football at 12 or 1one o’clock in the morning and our wives are looking at us going ‘is there something wrong with these two lads.'

“But we love the game and we love Galway and that’s it.”

Galway travel to take on second-placed Drogheda United at United Park next Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).