And yet, they somehow remain in control of their own destiny, even if Derry’s late equaliser in the Brandywell means that their lead has been cut to three points with six games remaining.
In some respects, it’s remarkable they are in that position with just one victory in their last seven league games.
They did apply pressure in the dying stages here, but the concern for Duff will be how they started this match; miles away from the focus that defined the start to the campaign that gave them a cushion.
If battle fatigue is a concern, the only consolation is that travel fatigue should be out of the equation in the short terme. Four of their next five matches are at Tolka Park, although there’s a trip to Tallaght sandwiched in there before the last day showdown with Derry City at the Brandywell. That finishing line must feel like a long way off at this juncture.
Naturally enough, the focus is on the plight of the leaders but Galway were excellent here, especially seeing as they’d played Shamrock Rovers here on Monday night. Shels had more recovery time from a tough FAI Cup reverse in the Brandywell. Yet it was Galway that looked fresher and more plugged in, and this deserved success moves them to fourth in the table, just eight points off top spot.
In a meeting of two sides who excel with a lead to protect, the first goal was always going to be crucial. The fact that it came in the second minute didn’t change that.
Duff had spoken beforehand about his players knowing what to expect from their hosts. But it didn’t look that way from the outset, with Caulfield sending out a side that was very much on the front foot, determined to make this a very uncomfortable evening their guests.
And yet there’s two ways of looking at the decisive goal. Galway were assertive, getting the ball forward quickly to Stephen Walsh, with his tidy layoff finding Jimmy Keohane who arrowed a left-footer into the bottom corner from distance. A brilliant strike. Duff may look at it and ask why his players were so passive in standing off and facilitating it.
Galway’s response was to keep asking even more questions, with Shels given zero breathing space to recover. Shels’ goal kicks were informative, with Galway happy to send five bodies forward with the imposing Vincent Borden and Patrick Hickey supporting Walsh with Ed McCarthy and Keohane on either side.
Duff had started with two strikers, Aidan O’Brien and John Martin, but they were finding it hard to get out. They were blessed to avoid the concession of a second with Ed McCarthy striking the crossbar. And there were other let-offs too, with Galway rushing promising opportunities. The half finished with the unmarked Killian Brouder heading straight at Conor Kearns.
Shels had a little spell around the half-hour mark, and they were determined to look to tricky summer signing Rayhaan Tulloch for inspiration, yet Galway recovered ball to get bodies around and the Reds’ execution just wasn’t incisive enough to pick the lock.
This remained a theme in the second half, with Tulloch the most dangerous Shels player as Duff rang the changes, with a pair of double substitutions in the attempt to pull Galway out of shape.
They never really succeeded in doing so and, while Galway did have to retreat eventually, they still created the outstanding chance of the half, with Walsh screwing the ball wide under minimal pressure.
Caulfield and his staff paced the sideline, fearing a sucker punch. But Shels, it would seem, have lost the power to deliver one. It’s squeaky bum time now.
Galway United: Clarke, Horgan (Slevin 81), Buckley, Brouder, Cunningham; McCormack, Borden (Hurley 69); Keohane, Hickey, McCarthy (Burns 69); Walsh (O’Sullivan 87)
Shelbourne Kearns, Gannon, Barrett, Griffin (Ledwidge 60), Wilson (Smith 76); Coote (Burt 66), Coyle (Wood 60), Caffrey, Tulloch; O’Brien (Boyd 66), Martin.
