Joey O’Brien: “The focus is 100% on the league” | OneFootball

Shelbourne welcome Galway United to Tolka Park this Sunday in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

Joey O’Brien’s side face their first home league game in almost a month, following a run of European fixtures which saw the Reds seal league phase football for the first time in history.

The Reds come into the fixture aiming to build on those performances, while Galway arrive in Drumcondra looking to get back to winning ways.

O’Brien has a near full-strength squad to choose from, with the exception of the injured Conor Kearns who is facing an extended spell on the sidelines:

“We’re good on the injury front. Conor is the only long-term absentee but he’s working hard on his rehab. Jack Henry-Francis has been training. He came to us injured and the recovery has gone on longer than he or we would have liked, but he’s been training well over the last few weeks and is making great progress and we’re excited to see him get minutes.”

“The games with Galway have all been very tight, we’ve played them three times this season and all three ended in draws. There’s not a lot between the sides, not a lot in any of the games really. It will be a really difficult game. They have been playing very well, will feel hard done by in the defeat to Derry, and very good against Rovers they took a point. We have to focus on ourselves and improve on our last performance down there, when we went to Galway we caused them problems, created chances, but didn’t take them.”

Despite a winless run stretching back to June, the Reds boss feels it doesn’t reflect the quality that Galway possess:

“They’ve been on the wrong side of tight games, they’re always in the game, they’re such a dangerous side. They made us pay for missed chances the last time. There was a lot in that game to look back on and we’ve done that, you have to take your chances when they come or we’ll be punished. They’re a really tough team and there haven’t been many positive results against them over the years, tells you it all really. The games have all been tight. They’re excellent on set pieces, probably the best in the league in terms of attacking set pieces, so we know how hard it will be.”

The Reds learned their UEFA Conference League fate as the draw took place earlier this week. Reflecting on the draw, O’Brien says:

“It was a great draw. Going away to Alkmaar and having Crystal Palace in Dublin are brilliant games to be involved in for the players, the staff, everyone at the club really, and the other four fixtures the same, and in all the games we’ll look to go and get points. It was great to get here and to celebrate the win against Linfield, but now it’s down to business. The focus is on getting eyes on the opposition, preparing properly, and it’s great to be there, but we’re not content with just being in the competition, we want to get results and we believe we can.”

With the race for a top-three finish hotting up, O’Brien says the Reds have full focus on league matters as that holds the keys to Europe for next season:

“The focus is 100% on the league. The lads have enjoyed the journey and playing top opposition in Europe, but you only get there by doing your work in the league, and we know we’ve a bit to do. It’s very tight in those European places, the race is close, and we’re only focused on this fixture. It’s a great opportunity for us to attack the game and then head into a month with no European fixtures, four league games, after this then you’re into three matches in a week. We’ll know a lot about where our season is heading then.”