Galway United edged through the opening round of the EA Sports Cup on a 1-0 score-line against Cockhill Celtic courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Gerry Gill. United fan favourite Alan Murphy dictated the flow of the opening half with some sli
Galway United edged through the opening round of the EA Sports Cup on a 1-0 score-line against Cockhill Celtic courtesy of an unfortunate own goal from Gerry Gill.
United fan favourite Alan Murphy dictated the flow of the opening half with some slick passing, and he had a shot on target early on as well to test Lee McCarron in the Cockhill goals, but he was denied.
Marc Ludden also tested McCarron between the posts with a low-driven pile-driver from 35 yards out, but the goalkeeper was more than equal to the effort. Chances fell for either side through Stephen Kenny and veteran Cockhill midfielder Gill, but nothing influential enough to change the scoreboard.
The second half promised better football from either side, and it was Galway who took the lead through fortuitous circumstances when a Kenny free kick from 30 yards out near the leff flank was deflected over McCarron by the head of Gill in the 52nd minute.
Kenny was again involved with a free kick that sailed straight into McCarron's grasp 20 minutes from time - but the real drama came 10 minutes later when James Bradley was dismissed from the field of play for a poor tackle on Alex Byrne.
A speculative effort from Ryan Connolly in the dying embers of the match tested the Cockhill rearguard, but the match was to end 1-0; a narrow win for Galway as their cup adventure continues, but a brave, defensive effort from Cockhill.
