Foster proud of United's efforts
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Despite finding it difficult to come to terms with dropping into the relegation play-off position on the last night of the season, Galway United boss Ian Foster reflected with some pride on a campaign, which may not yet be over, in which he believes his young squad have "massively overachieved" in steering well clear of automatic relegation.
"It’s difficult to take, because we’ve worked incredibly hard to stay in the top seven all season and we’ve been pipped on the final day, but the season is over 36 games not 35," said Foster following the game. "42 points is a decent total for a football club of our resources. I’ve got no complaints the way the season has gone. I’ve been absolutely delighted with all my players, they’ve given me everything they’ve got, and there’s only the champions we haven’t taken points off this season.
Punching above their weight has been a constant theme to Galway's season and Foster was quick to point out the disparity in playing budgets, not just of those at the top of the table, but more importantly those with whom his threadbare squad have sparred on an even footing for most of the Premier Division campaign.
"I imagine, off the top of my head, Pat’s would have a budget four times mine and I know Sligo’s is certainly double. And we’ve took them right to the wire. We’ve got to be proud of that. It’s a fantastic achievement for us to compete with those teams right through the season and take it to the wire. In February/March everyone had us nailed on for tenth."
On a night when his depleted side needed a win to ensure safety, a battling point was all the Tribesmen could muster, allowing St. Patrick's Athletic and Sligo Rovers to leapfrog them in the table. Foster was still more than pleased with his side's efforts.
"I’m delighted with the performance," the Liverpudlian stated. "Cork have qualified for the Europa League tonight, which just underlines how much class they’ve got. We showed great character, coming from behind twice and threw everything at them, threw the kitchen sink at them in the end and were unfortunate maybe not to get all three points."
Minus a couple of imposing centre-halves, his side struggled to deal with crosses all night, something he had prepared for, but the preventable manner of Cork's goals still rankled.
"I’m disappointed because I said to the players before the game, and we’ve worked on it all week in training, to not give silly free-kicks and corners away against a team when we’re severely lacking in height. After ten minutes we give a wide free kick away and two corners and they scored from one. So, that was disappointing, the second one even more so. We should stop the cross, and when the ball comes into the box it’s a sloppy header. We didn’t compete and then it’s just rolled into the back of the goal.
"But, we showed fantastic character to come from behind twice, had a great shout for a penalty with the handball, but to be fair there was 85 handballs tonight that the referee didn’t see."
"It’s difficult to take, because we’ve worked incredibly hard to stay in the top seven all season and we’ve been pipped on the final day, but the season is over 36 games not 35," said Foster following the game. "42 points is a decent total for a football club of our resources. I’ve got no complaints the way the season has gone. I’ve been absolutely delighted with all my players, they’ve given me everything they’ve got, and there’s only the champions we haven’t taken points off this season.
Punching above their weight has been a constant theme to Galway's season and Foster was quick to point out the disparity in playing budgets, not just of those at the top of the table, but more importantly those with whom his threadbare squad have sparred on an even footing for most of the Premier Division campaign.
"I imagine, off the top of my head, Pat’s would have a budget four times mine and I know Sligo’s is certainly double. And we’ve took them right to the wire. We’ve got to be proud of that. It’s a fantastic achievement for us to compete with those teams right through the season and take it to the wire. In February/March everyone had us nailed on for tenth."
On a night when his depleted side needed a win to ensure safety, a battling point was all the Tribesmen could muster, allowing St. Patrick's Athletic and Sligo Rovers to leapfrog them in the table. Foster was still more than pleased with his side's efforts.
"I’m delighted with the performance," the Liverpudlian stated. "Cork have qualified for the Europa League tonight, which just underlines how much class they’ve got. We showed great character, coming from behind twice and threw everything at them, threw the kitchen sink at them in the end and were unfortunate maybe not to get all three points."
Minus a couple of imposing centre-halves, his side struggled to deal with crosses all night, something he had prepared for, but the preventable manner of Cork's goals still rankled.
"I’m disappointed because I said to the players before the game, and we’ve worked on it all week in training, to not give silly free-kicks and corners away against a team when we’re severely lacking in height. After ten minutes we give a wide free kick away and two corners and they scored from one. So, that was disappointing, the second one even more so. We should stop the cross, and when the ball comes into the box it’s a sloppy header. We didn’t compete and then it’s just rolled into the back of the goal.
"But, we showed fantastic character to come from behind twice, had a great shout for a penalty with the handball, but to be fair there was 85 handballs tonight that the referee didn’t see."
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile