Galway FC exit EA Sports Cup in penalty shout-out

Wexford Youths 1

Galway FC 1

After extra-time

Wexford Youths win 4-3 on penalties

Not getting remotely close to what they truly deserve is becoming a theme of Galway FC’s season with this EA Sports Cup quarter-final defeat bringing another loss that was as painful as it was avoidable.

During a match dominated by Galway, several opportunities were crafted, but the conversion rate was poor, enabling Wexford to simply remain defiant. Then in extra-time Wexford pinched a goal courtesy of substitute Danny Furlong totally against the run of play to give them hope and momentum.

Credit must go to Galway for staying the distance as Gary Shanahan plundered a leveller as most of the action continued to take place deep in Wexford territory. Ryan Connolly, who had passed and probed impressively from the first whistle, was subsequently thwarted by a Graham Doyle save and the Wexford custodian emerged as the hero in the shoot-out.

Colm Horgan and Vinny Faherty missed Galway spot-kicks as Alex Byrne, Jake Keegan, and Ryan Connolly’s successful efforts were rendered insufficient. It was that kind of utterly frustrating night for Galway and manager Tommy Dunne admitted his team just weren’t clinical enough.

“Looking at it, if you don’t take your chances that is what happens,” was Dunne’s appraisal. “We had ample chances in 90 minutes, we just didn’t take them and when you don’t score you are always leaving yourself open. In extra-time we conceded a sloppy goal.

“But we got back into the game brilliantly. It was a great goal, but we had a brilliant chance to win it at the death. I see the reasons, though, and they are that we didn’t make the right decisions at the right times.”