Galway United edge past Cork City in crucial six-pointer
Stephen Walsh scored a first half brace for Galway United. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
In a huge game to avoid the drop in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division, Galway United defeated Cork City at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.
It was the hosts who started brightly, and it was John Caulfield’s side who had the first chance of the game in the seventh minute, but Stephen Walsh’s header following a Jimmy Keohane corner went narrowly wide.
Minutes later, Jimmy Keohane found himself in behind the City defence, but the former Cork City man saw his effort saved by Galway native, Conor Brann, in the Galway goal.
Caulfield’s charges eventually made their early pressure pay in the 19th minute, when Walsh headed home from close-range, following a flick on from Patrick Hickey in the visitors’ box.
Walsh was appearing for the Tribesmen for the 368th time, equaling Kevin Cassidy’s all time appearance record for the club.
With just over five minutes remaining in the half, Keohane almost doubled the home side’s lead, but his effort from outside the box went narrowly wide.
Moments after the opening goal, Killian Brouder had a big chance to give his side a 2-0 lead, but the Limerick native’s effort from close-range went well over Brann’s crossbar.
Against the run of play, Ger Nash’s side incredibly levelled the game. In the 42nd minute, Alex Nolan picked up the ball following a Galway corner. Nolan weaved his way through the Galway half, and he rifled a shot from outside the box into the back of the net.
To their credit, the westerners didn’t drop their heads and they retook the lead on the stroke of half-time. Local man, Walsh found the back of the net for a second time from a header, following a fine cross by Dara McGuinness, as the hosts went in 2-1 up at the break.
Just like the first half, Galway started on the front foot, but they failed to test former Galway United U19 keeper, Brann, in the Cork goal.
Just before the 55th minute, Walsh went close to scoring his third goal from a header following a cross from the right flank, but to the relief of Brann, the header just went wide.
Hickey was the next to go close for the Tribesmen, but his header flashed wide, following good play down the left flank by Bobby Burns and Keohane.
With just over 20 minutes remaining, Maguire went close for the rebel army, but his effort off his left foot went over the bar.
Interestingly, the home side pushed for a third goal, rather than sitting on their lead and for large periods of this game, they were very dangerous in attack. Substitute Ed McCarthy was next to have an effort at goal, but his shot into the old dressing room end went well over the bar.
The Munster men were on top for much of the final quarter, but the men in maroon always looked dangerous on the break. The Terryland outfit defended well in the final few minutes of the game, but Seani Maguire looked to have equalised the game in the dying minutes, but his goal was ruled out for offside.
United continued to defend well in injury time, looked dangerous on the counter and held on for a deserved win, in a performance their late assistant manager, Ollie Horgan, would have been proud of.
Watts; Esua, Brouder, Buckley, Burns; Bolger (McCarthy 66), Hickey, Slevin, Keohane, Walsh (Horgan 92), McGuinness (Sivi 87)
Brann; Kelleher (Couto 64), McLaughlin, Nolan, Crowley, Kiernan (Lyons 86), Fitzpatrick (Lee 86), Anderson, Maguire, Feely, Kamara (Nelson 54).
Rob Hennessy (Limerick)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
