Galway FC brush aside UCD test to advance in FAI Cup

Galway FC manager Tommy Dunne said his team would face a step-up in class when taking on UCD in the FAI Cup on Friday evening – and it was a test they passed with flying colours as they eased into the Third Round of the blue ribband of Irish soccer with consummate ease thanks to a 3-1 win in Belfield.

The visitors bossed the game throughout, and in truth the final scoreline flattered the home side more than Galway FC, such was the dominance of the men from the West.

The majority of the early action was confined to the middle-third of the pitch, and while both sides tried to play some neat passing football, the fare on offer failed to catch the imagination. It was like two welterweight boxers testing each other with a little jab here, a little jab there. The visitors soon morphed into a heavyweight – for the remainder of the game, you’d be forgiven for wondering which was the Premier Division outfit.

They advanced to the Third Round with goals from Jason Molloy, Stephen Walsh and Jake Keegan, and the margin of victory could have been bigger, as Walsh hit both the crossbar and a post as the visitors completely dominated.

However they will have to wait almost two months to find out their Third Round opponents – the draw for the last 16 of the competition doesn’t take place until Friday July 25; with the games themselves not set to be played until the week ending Sunday August 24.