End of the road for depleted Utd squad in EA Sports Cup

Limerick FC 2

Galway United   0

GALWAY United’s hopes of going one better from last season in this year’s EA Sports Cup ended in the Markets Field on Tuesday night when they were the latest side to be swept away by a rampant Limerick FC.

United lost the final of this competition in a penalty shoot-out last season, but goals in either half on Tuesday night from a side running away with the First Division title means United bow out at the quarter-final stage this year.

It was probably United’s best shot at a trophy this year, especially considering they are involved in the only all Premier Division tie in the FAI Cup later this month when they travel to Dalymount Park to take on Bohemian FC.

However, with league games away to Dundalk on Friday and at home to St Patrick’s Athletic on Tuesday, United manager Tommy Dunne opted to ring the changes for the quarter-final.

He made seven in all from the side that disappointed against Longford in the league last Friday night, the most significant of which was a debut for Swedish centre-half, Armin Aganovic, who looks to have finally overcome the injury that has kept him sidelined for the first two months of the season.

It was always going to be tough away to a Limerick side that has won all nine league games this season to already enjoy a 12-point lead at the top of the First Division table, with a goal difference of +32 – second-placed Drogheda United, on +1, are the only other side with a positive goal difference.

Limerick named a fairly full-strength side, making only two changes from the 7-2 hammering they handed out to Waterford United on Saturday, and they dominated the first-half, and took a deserved lead into the break.

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