Galway FC edge closer to promotion

Galway FC are just 90 minutes away from promotion to the Premier Division after a stunning last-gasp 2-1 win over UCD in the Belfield Bowl on Monday night.

Trailing to a Timmy Murphy goal with a minute remaining, Tommy Dunne’s side scored twice in the space of 60 seconds to take a firm grip on the play-off, and justify their tag as favourites for promotion.

While the visitors were installed as clear favourites, there is a big step-up in class from the First Division to the Premier, no matter how poorly the top-flight side has fared over the season, and that was clear in the first-half of Monday’s game.

While Galway FC bossed the majority of the game against Shelbourne in Tolka Park on Friday night, they had to play second fiddle for most of the opening 45 minutes in Belfield. The Tribesmen side were on the backfoot from the start, and while they came more into the game as the half wore on, it was UCD who looked more threatening in front of goal.

The visitors struggled to get out of their own final third of the pitch for the first 10 minutes, but Conor Gleeson was never tested and it was Galway FC who carved out the first chance, Ryan Connolly delivering a free-kick to the back post which was met by Gary Shanahan, but his diving header was well off target.

The winger did go closer two minutes later when a fine move down the Galway left flank resulted in Ryan Manning rolling a ball in behind the defence for Jake Keegan, who drilled a ball to the near post, but Ian Ryan got in ahead of Shanahan to concede a corner.

The home side opened the scoring in the 18^th minute with what was their first shot on target, and it came from a defensive error by Galway FC. Conor O’Donnell punted a goalkick towards the left flank, and Mark Langtry just beat Colm Horgan to the ball.

Paddy Barrett was covering and appeared to have matters under control, but a slip allowed Gary Burke to nip in and win possession. He played the ball back to the angle of the box for Timmy Molloy, and the Galway native sent a daisy-cutter past Gleeson and inside the far post.

O’Donnell was quick off his line to deny Shanahan three minutes later, but UCD continued to pose the bigger threat, and it took a flying save from Gleeson to prevent them from doubling their lead after Conor Cannon turned on a sixpence and let fly from 15 yards.

Paul Sinnott and Keegan both had efforts from distance, but neither packed any power and O’Donnell gathered comfortably, with a flurry of bookings late in the half the only real incidents of note as the half-time whistle approached.

Whatever assistant manager Leo Tierney said in the visitors dressing room had the desired effect, as Galway FC were a transformed side in the second half and, if UCD had bossed the opening 45 minutes, then the second period certainly belonged to the visitors.

They completely outplayed their hosts, with Manning twice going close in the first five minutes, with the home side relying on trying to catch Galway FC on the break as they struggled to get out of their own half.

Galway FC had won in the FAI Cup here earlier in the season, but while they dominated the second half, they were struggling to turn possession into real chances, although as the half wore on, the UCD goal came more and more under threat.

Manning was denied by O’Donnell in the 76^th minute, and when the resulting corner was whipped in, the ‘keeper managed to claw Gary Shanahan’s header onto the crossbar.

Barrett spilt the UCD defence with a perfectly-weighted ball for Jake Keegan in the 83^rd minute, but when the American striker skied his effort with only O’Donnell to beat, it looked like the visitors would have nothing to show for their efforts.

But then came that frantic, stunning final few minutes. They pulled level in the 89^th minute when Marc Ludden launched a trademark long throw into the UCD penalty area. Barrett beat O’Donnell in the air to head goalwards, and while Ian Ryan hooked the ball clear on the line, the assistant referee flagged to indicate the ball had crossed the line.

The Galway FC fans were still celebrating when their side took the lead just 60 seconds later. Connolly fizzed in a corner from the left which UCD failed to clear, and Manning claimed possession with his right foot before firing home in a crowded penalty area with his left to snatch the winner.

UCD were on the ropes, and Galway FC could have added a third two minutes into injury time but O’Donnell saved smartly from Shanahan. However it is the First Division side who are now firm favourites to cap a brilliant debut season by claiming promotion when they host the Student sin the second leg in Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night (7.45pm).