Soccer
Forde thrilled with the ‘night of his life’
CIARAN TIERNEY
THE Galway native did not want the night to end. After waiting until he was 33-years old before making his competitive debut for the Republic of Ireland, it was no wonder that goalkeeper David Forde savoured every moment of Ireland’s draw with England at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday night.
He had come a long way, via Galway United, Derry City, Barry Town, West Ham United (where he never managed to break into the first time) and Cardiff City before establishing himself as first choice ‘keeper at London club Millwall.
The route has been tough at times, so no wonder he felt it was a dream come true as he soaked in the atmosphere after holding a star-studded home attack to just one goal in front of 80,126 fans at Wembley Stadium.
The Inishannagh Park native was superb on Wednesday night, making a number of key saves as England chased a win in the closing stages, and he could hardly have been faulted for the Frank Lampard goal which levelled the tie on 22 minutes.
Suddenly, all the worries about finding a long-term replacement for Shay Given seemed misplaced among the Irish contingent, who were delighted by the Galway man’s assured performance between the posts in what was the fourth Wembley appearance of his professional career.
Forde had been there before for two play-off finals, and Wednesday’s win banished the memories of Millwall’s 2-0 defeat to Wigan Athletic in last month’s FA Cup semi-final at the famed London venue.
But this was different. He was playing for his country against England, the ‘old enemy’, in the first fixture between the two countries in 18 years. The kind of game he dreamed of playing in when he first kicked a ball around the Westside as a youngster, or when he would watch an FA Cup final at home on television. He could feel it in the atmosphere before the game, this was far more than just an end of season friendly.
“It was always going to be like that, with England taking on Ireland. It was a really good end of season game and Wembley is a very special place,” he told Tribune Sport from his Dublin hotel yesterday afternoon.
“Growing up as a kid in Galway, watching the games on television, I’d always dreamed of playing there. We’d watch the Cup finals at home and it’s incredible to think I’ve now played there four times.
“But last night’s game was really something special. I was delighted with my own performance in what was such a big game. The atmosphere, the noise, was special and you’d forget it was only a warm-up for the Faroe Islands game next Friday. It was incredible to run out in front of more than 80,000 fans and to stay unbeaten against that England team.”
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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