Galway book FAI Cup semi-final spot with win at Drogheda
Stephen Walsh of Galway United celebrates after his side's victory. Pic: Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Galway United moved a step closer to their first FAI Cup final appearance in 35 years with victory over 2024 winners Drogheda United at Sullivan & Lambe Park.
Generations of Galway supporters have been craving cup success for too long and John Caulfield, winner of two FAI Cups as Cork City manager a decade ago, will hope he is the man to lead the Tribesmen back to a showpiece final appearance in D4.
It looked like they wouldn’t even make the last four when Drogheda, having started quickly, hit the front after just 14 minutes. Brandon Kavanagh – their outstanding player all season long – brilliantly dinked the ball around Jimmy Keohane and struck a shot low into the bottom corner.
Stephen Walsh – one of just two players on the field who had been born when Galway last lifted the blue riband cup in 1991 – dragged his level when his diving header diverted Devitt’s free-kick beyond goalkeeper Luke Dennison.
Before kick-off, a section of home supporters unfurled a banner taking aim at owners Trivela, in which they implored the US-based owners to relinquish control of the club. As the team sit ninth in the Premier Division, all does not appear well on Boyneside.
For the second week running, they had let an early lead slip to lose. Seven days earlier, it cost them three points and local bragging rights. Here, their cup aspirations ended for another year.
They were in jeopardy when Mark Doyle received a second booking with 30 minutes still to play. Referee Kevin O’Sullivan deemed the striker to have simulated contact in the penalty area as Leigh Kavanagh challenged for the ball.
Galway had offered done much – bar their set-piece equaliser – to that point but they too advantage of their extra man. Devitt found space in the area to drill in the winner off the post with just minutes of normal time remaining.
Dennison; Quinn, Keeley, Bolger (Burney, 40); Agbaje (Markey, 86), Bates (O’Brien, 86), Farrell (Davis, 86), Kane; Kavanagh; Doyle, Ancelin (Oluwa, 12).
Da Cunha; Williams, O’Connor, Kavanagh (Facchineri, 90+3); Keohane, Bolger, Devitt, Barratt, Kazeem (Thiam, 89); Twardek (Pierrot, 89), Walsh.
: Kevin O’Sullivan
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