Keohane strikes late to grab Galway a point against Shelbourne

Jimmy Keohane of Galway United celebrates. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Galway United 1-1 Shelbourne

There was late drama in Eamonn Deacy Park as captain Jimmy Keohane struck late to earn Galway United a deserved draw with Shelbourne on Friday.

Former United player John Russell was absent from the sidelines as the Shelbourne manager served his third and final suspension following a red card shown during their 3-2 defeat at home to St. Pat’s, the Reds making two changes following their Europa Conference League exit at the hands of Dutch giants Ajax earlier this month.

The away side kicked off and almost took an early lead when Anthony O’Connor allowed a high ball to bounce through towards goalkeeper Hugo Pires da Cunha, with Shels striker Seán Boyd reacting quickest to nod the ball beyond da Cunha but Leigh Kavanagh was on hand to make a superb goal-line clearance.

The Tribesmen reacted well and their best chance fell on 20 minutes when a Wasiri Williams’ cross-field ball found Ed McCarthy on the edge of the area, the winger meandering past Milan Mbeng before striking a low shot on goal which was well saved by Ed Beach in goal.

Chances remained at a premium as neither side were able to establish control, and it was Shelbourne who had the best chance of the game when Mbeng’s through ball found Daniel Kelly in space, the Dubliner squaring the ball into the path of Boyd but Kavanagh was again on hand to intervene, the defender throwing himself in front of the shot to preserve Galway’s clean sheet heading into the break.

Galway emerged with renewed purpose, their best chance coming when Aaron Bolger almost got in behind the Shelbourne defence only for Odhran Casey to produce a perfectly timed last-ditch challenge and snuff out the danger. 

The Reds responded when Daniel Kelly then broke free, only for his shot to sail high and wide of the goal.

As time wore on neither side looked likeliest to break the deadlock, but that changed in an instant when Kelly went down under a challenge from Leigh Kavanagh inside the Galway penalty area, referee Aaron O’Down showing no hesitation in awarding a penalty, much to the anger of the United players and fans. 

Kelly grabbed the goal, and despite da Cunha blocking his first effort, the rebound fell kindly for the Shels forward, who kept his composure to fire the ball into the net and put the visitors 1-0 ahead.

Galway refused to accept defeat and John Caulfield emptied his bench in search of a way back into the game, and his changes paid off in dramatic fashion in the dying moments when a Kazeem cross found Pierrot in the box, the Haitian forward laying the ball off for Jimmy Keohane who drilled a shot past Beach to send the home crowd into raptures and earn his side a vital point in the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Galway United: Da Cunha; Williams, O’Connor, Kavanagh (Kazeem 83’), Devitt (Barratt 87’), Bolger, Hurley, Keohane, Twardek (Lomboto 77’), McCarthy (Connolly 87'), Walsh (Pierrot 83’).

Shelbourne: Beach; Mbeng (Odubeko 70’), Gannon, Casey, Ledwidge, Norris, Lunney, McInroy, Kelly (Ring 90’), Caffrey, Boyd (Moore 59’).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd.