End of road for Galway League after shootout loss to Wexford

Wexford League 1

Galway League 1

(Wexford won 6-5 on pens)

AFTER qualifying from the group stages of the Oscar Traynor Cup for the first time in many years, Galway’s odyssey in the competition ended in dramatic circumstances in Gorey on Saturday evening.

On an occasion when they missed a hatful of chances in the opening half in particular, they continued their error ridden performance in the shootout when failing to convert four penalties at a time when any score would have seen them qualify for the last eight.

In contrast, goalkeeper James Keane could not have done anymore as four smashing penalty saves, allied to scoring his own effort, helped maintain the Galway challenge as both sides required 11 penalties before the home side eventually advanced.

The Tribesman’s cause was not helped by the dismissal of two players which meant that two of the team had to shoot twice in the penalty contest. Wexford were also reduced to ten men as one from each side went in a contentious moment.

Galway’s first half performance should have being better rewarded as they created a host of chances, but had to settle for a 1-0 interval advantage as Mike Elwood headed home a Keith Ward set piece delivery on 19 minutes.

A questionable offside decision ruled out what looked to be a good Simon Walsh goal, while Colm O’Donovan and Alex Lee were denied by goal line clearances in the same attack. Sean Gavin was guilty of a misdirected header from in front of goal, while a bad bounce did O’Donovan no favours when through with just the goalkeeper to beat.

While Wexford enjoyed supremacy in the closing stages of the half, just a Paul Muphy effort extended ‘keeper Keane, before the midfielder eventually got the better of the College custodian on 76 minutes with a cracking shot that levelled matters. Subsequently, caution appeared to be the byword in the latter stages and extra time as few opportunities were created at either end.

The penalty shootout more than compensated for that with loads of drama and with Wexford shooting first, James Keane put Galway in the driving seat on a number of occasions with terrific saves, but unfortunately, a number of his colleagues could not take advantage as they too fluffed their lines with missed penalties.

Wexford custodian Gary McCleane equally played a huge part in their success, with three saves in the shootout. Eventually, the home side prevailed by 6-5 and, in the process, set up a home quarter-final against either the Kerry League or the Defence Forces.

Afterwards manager Garret Gorman was hugely disappointed by the outcome. “It was one we certainly left behind us as the missed chances came back to haunt us. We should certainly have put them away in the opening half.

“In the shootout, James Keane put us in the driving seat on four occasions with terrific saves, but each time we failed to take advantage and score ourselves. Now if we were beaten by a better team, it would be easier to accept, but overall the outcome was disappointing  as a win was within our capabilities”.

Galway League: James Keane, T Walsh, S Rodden, J Woods, M Elwood, J Finn (A Lee), S Gavin (K McHugh), DRyan (Jonathan Keane), K Ward, C O’Donovan, S Walsh.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.