Soccer
Flattering Salthill Devon fail to take the most of a flying start
WATERFORD United were on the verge of going out of existence last week but after their fans came to the club’s financial rescue, the players rewarded their support with a comprehensive win over Salthill Devon at a soaked Drom on Friday night.
Former Galway United player and Waterford United adviser Pat Dolan was an interested spectator in a game which was in the melting pot at half time, but the visitors took control after the break.
Coming into the game, John Brennan’s charges were minus another key player as striker Enda Curran agreed terms with Athlone Town last week and made an immediate impact by scoring the winner in their victory against Finn Harps.
Devon, however, got off to a dream start when they hit the front inside three minutes. Brian Geraghty started as a makeshift striker and when his effort was handled by a Waterford defender on the edge of the box, Daniel Cunningham beautifully curled the free kick low into the bottom left corner.
Minutes later Devon almost doubled their lead when Geraghty’s shot rebounded off Waterford keeper Charles Saunders but Craig Harding’s follow up effort went well over the bar.
On 11 minutes, the visitors had their first chance of the game – and they took it. Phil Drohan’s cross from the left flank found Marco Chindea at the back post and he rifled home.
The strong familiar Drom breeze was dominating affairs, but the blues created another decent chance when Conor Meade crept in and Salthill keeper James Keane had to advance. He cleared only as far as the waiting Vinny Sullivan only for the Waterrford man to blaze over.
Devon were battling hard and youngster Conor Barry was impressing in his senior debut for the club in central midfield. Cunningham then crossed for Harding, but the winger missed it and the ball bounced inches wide. As the half hour mark approached, Salthill caught the Waterford United defence napping and Barry was in on goal but with just Saunders to beat, his shot sailed inches over.
Kevin O’Connor, Patrick Barrett and Chindea missed half-chances for the visitors before the break but Devon were holding strong and the sides went in level at the interval.
Devon looked well worth a bet for a draw at this point, having gone their previous three home games without defeat and playing decent football, but at the start of the second-half two early goals killed their challenge.
Within a minute of the restart, the Blues hit the front when a quick Dylan Mernagh throw was collected by Drohan from 25 yards, and the winger let fly after a quick turn and the ball flew into the net.
Devon were rattled and moments later Waterford sailed 3-1 ahead when Seamus Long fed Drohan on the left flank once more and when he cut into the box, he was challenged by Devon’s young Donegal right-back Shane O’Rourke.
How the referee gave a penalty will never be established but nonetheless Ray Matthews pointed to the spot despite the former Finn Harps man clearly winning the ball and the frantic protests of the Devon players.
Conor Meade stood up when tempers eventually cooled and he slotted low to James Keane’s left to give Waterford the two-goal cushion and well on their way towards three points.
The visitors then began to dominate and to sum up Devon’s luck on the night a freak fourth goal arrived when Devon tried to clear a Waterford attack, but the ball struck Waterford’s Conor Whittle on the head and bounced over Keane and into the net.
Devon’s chances of avoiding a bottom-placed finish remain alive but they now face two difficult fixtures on the road which are against Finn Harps and Longford Town respectively.
Friday the 13th – unlucky for some – and Galway United will be hoping it is an unlucky night for runaway leaders Shelbourne on Friday evening. Shels, who are currently 10 points clear of second place United, are still unbeaten in this year’s First Division with 12 wins and six draws to their name.
The Tribesmen go into this week’s pivotal fixture after a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Cork City last Friday at Eamonn Deacy Park. The game had a ‘hit-and-run’ feel to it as Colin Healy’s side snatched all three points with ten minutes to go which ended United’s seven-game unbeaten league run.
BY TOM BYRNE
Even so, United replaced Treaty United in second place on goal difference after the Limerick outfit were defeated 4-1 by Cabinteely at the Markets Field.
Shelbourne have been the team to beat this season as they look odds-on to win this season’s First Division with nine games to go. Ian Morris’ side were hampered by a number of Covid cases in their squad for last week’s game against UCD, where they drew 0-0 at the UCD Bowl. It is expected that they will have players returning for their crucial clash against United at Terryland.
The two clubs have faced each other on 75 occasions. Shelbourne being victorious the more often with 39 wins, United defeating the north-Dubliners 17 times and 19 games ending in stalemate. United have hit the Shels net 86 times while the 2019 First Division winners have scored on 132 occasions against United.
The two teams played out a 0-0 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park in the first game this season, while Shelbourne had the upper hand in the reverse fixture when they overcame United 4-0 at Tolka Park in May.
Goal friendly Shels have struck 36 goals in 18 games so far this campaign, with former Shamrock Rovers man Ryan Brennan bagging ten of those. United will look to Wilson Waweru and Ruairi Keating for their main source of goals, with the latter hitting the net on seven occasions this season. Waweru brought his goal tally to six last week when he scored United’s first equalising goal against Cork City.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the soccer preview, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.
Galway United 2
Athlone Town 2
GALWAY United had to twice come from behind against basement side Athlone Town on Monday night to snatch a draw that was, on balance, probably a little harsh on the visiting side.
Completely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, United had an absolute howler from visiting goalkeeper, Aaron Myles, to thank for going into the break on level terms; and then needed an equaliser five minutes from time to claim a draw against a side that came into the game having lost all four games they had played this season.
Alan Murphy’s side already find themselves nine points behind the league leaders just four games into the season, and a major improvement is needed if they are to finish in the top half of the table and inside the play-off spots.
Their central midfield was way off the mark on Monday night – both Maurice Nugent and Sam Warde were hauled ashore before the final whistle – and having abandoned the 4-4-2 formation which delivered some decent results near the end of last season, they are struggling to get quality ball into the opposition box.
With Shane Duggan expected to return to central midfield after suspension for this Saturday’s trip to Cobh Ramblers, it might be time to go with some out-and-out wingers and get some cohesion in the side.
The first couple of half chances on Monday fell to the home side, but Mikey Place didn’t get any power behind his second minute effort; while Marc Ludden was well off target subsequently.
The visitors, who had the opening half’s best player in their ranks in the guise of Galway native, Ronan Manning, went close a couple of times themselves in the ninth minute, United surviving thanks to Cian Murphy getting a block on Adam Lennon’s shot; while Kevin Horgan pulled off a ‘worldie’ to deny Joel Coustrain from the subsequent corner.
By that stage, the visitors were starting to get on top, and they took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute when Manning’s corner from the left was met by Taner Dogan at the back post to head home as the United marking was, not for the first time this season, shambolic at a set-piece.
Tempers were starting to fray a little, with both sides having two players finding their way into the notebook of Dublin referee, Oliver Moran, before United were gifted an equaliser in the 41st minute.
Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune
Paul Corcorcan
GALWAY WFC notched a second win in a row in the Women’s National League when they defeated Limerick 6-1 at the Markets Field on Sunday afternoon.
A McKenna Doyle hat trick and goals from Sadbh Doyle, Chloe Singleton and Aoife Thompson helped the Galway women to a resounding win. Five of the six goals for Galway were assisted by Lynsey McKey during what was a stellar performance by the experienced midfielder.
Galway WFC are back in action at Eamonn Deacy Park tomorrow (Saturday, kick off 3pm) when they welcome league leaders Peamount United.
See full match report in City Tribune Sport.
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