Battling United restore modicum of pride with first point in 23 games

Date Published: {J}

Cian O’Connell

Galway United 2

Dundalk 2

Perhaps it was a sign of how far Galway United’s stock has fallen over the past couple of years, but the joy which greeted Friday’s draw with Dundalk was seen by the diehards who witnessed it as a rare slice of good news in a season of recurring nightmares.

True, Dundalk were the slicker team, but there was a purpose to this Galway display which meant that the irksome and confidence-sapping 23 game losing streak was finally terminated.

Other grim statistics like the fact that a point hadn’t been registered since April were also consigned to the history books and for those reasons alone the six hundred or so who continue to support the club through these most distressing times, left the banks of the Corrib with some hope that this crop of players can at least compete at this level for the remainder of the campaign.

It wasn’t exactly polished football from United, but there was honesty and the character provided from skipper Alan Murphy right through to the courage shown by Yob Son and Laurence Gaughan at the back augurs well.

In the middle of the park Gary Kelly, especially in the second half, demonstrated the required mixture of spirit and skill to suggest that the youngster can be encouraged to progress in a maroon shirt.

Murphy’s composure under pressure when guiding home an 84th minute penalty meant Galway escaped another defeat, and the division of the spoils was probably merited for the sheer desire of the performance.

Even when mistakes were made, there is no point in decorating the truth, because many basic and fundamental errors were committed the Galway players attempted to atone for them. Brave blocks and crucial interceptions were all made with Son and Gaughan always ready, willing, and able to respond following lapses in concentration that might have been punished by a more clinical side than Dundalk.

Son and Gaughan made so many interventions that their occasional naivety was forgiven. Eric Browne, shoved into an unfamiliar role in the centre of the park obliged by being as effective physically using his body throughout and allowing Kelly the freedom to wander seeking to influence the game.

That is exactly what Kelly did, particularly after the interval when Galway traded on parity with Dundalk. Even though Galway took the lead it was a different story in the first half because Dundalk ruled vast chunks despite being rocked in the tenth minute.

Eric Holland’s delivery had far more hope than expectation attached to it, but that didn’t seem to bother Jin Gu Kim, who took control of the ball inside the Dundalk area. Kim skipped away from Nathan Murphy before supplying a graceful finish which nudged Galway ahead.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.