It was a great day for football at Eamonn Deacy Park which saw Galway United host table toppers UCD in a match that could shape the outcome of the league and indeed the promotion battle. UCD were currently 5 games unbeaten coming into this one, mea
It was a great day for football at Eamonn Deacy Park which saw Galway United host table toppers UCD in a match that could shape the outcome of the league and indeed the promotion battle.
UCD were currently 5 games unbeaten coming into this one, meanwhile United were looking to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 loss to Finn Harps. Galway got going from the off and were pressing the Dubliners early and found success doing so.
Early chances for Marc Ludden and Alan Murphy had the men in Maroon kicking from the off and found joy when Maxim Kougoun fouled 27 yards out leading to the tireless Eoin McCormack hitting a peach of a shot into the top left corner via the back of UCD goalkeeper Conor Kearns.
Galway did not let up here and through this “heavy-metal” style of pressing the UCD back four minimized the threat of players such as Georgie Kelly and Gary O’Neill. Galway were carving UCD open at this point through excellent work by Danny Furlong who will be looking back on missed chances with sorrow.
The second half brought with it a different style of UCD play heavily influenced by Daire O’Connor’s winding runs from midfield. UCD came close on numerous occasions but failed to create a great chance.
Galway were forced to play with a back to the walls style for a the opening quarter of an hour in the restart but the defence held firm throughout. In the 77th minute Galway were home and dry as skipper Ryan Connolly hit an outrageous effort that ended up in the UCD net and finished out as an attempt that would make even the best in the world blush.
UCD pressed more and more but couldn’t get the goals they needed to get back into this one and subsequently lost their first game in 5, much to delight of the Galway faithful.
