Soccer
Galway U15s return with bronze medals from Poland
Keith Kelly
THE Galway FA U-15 side which travelled to Poland at the weekend to take part in an invitational tournament came home with the bronze medal, despite being the youngest squad in the competition.
The squad – which travelled to Torun after the Galway United Supporters’ Trust passed on an invite to the tournament to the Galway FA – finished second in its group to qualify for the tournament semi-finals, and while lost that last four encounter, they went on to claim third place with a 2-1 win in the third/fourth place play-off.
The Galway side – which was under the management of Nigel Keady and Derek Rogers – was drawn in a group with three Polish sides, including eventual tournament winners, Elana Torun.
The Galway outfit lost their group game with Elana on a 3-1 scoreline, with Ryan Forde getting the goal, which proved to be the only goal conceded by Elana Torun throughout the tournament.
The Renmore FC youngster scored all four of Galway’s goal in the group stages, scoring in the 1-1 draw with Pomorzanin Torun, and hitting a brace in the 2-0 win over another Polish side, Bydgoszcz.
Those results meant that Galway finished second in the group behind Elana Torun, and in the process book a semi-final slot against French outfit, Com Bagneux from Paris, and despite a gutsy performance, the Galway boys lost 1-0 to a late goal.
That saw them go into a third & fourth place play-off with Polish side Legia Chelmza, and Keady’s youngsters ended on a winning note, claiming the bronze medal with a 2-1 win courtesy of a penalty from Aidan Coyle (Hibs) and a stunning strike from Adam Quirke (Renmore).
Forde was selected by the tournament’s organisers as Galway’s top player, an accolade also bestowed on him by his fellow squad members.
“The lads really did themselves proud,” said Tommy Shields, who was Head of Delegation. “They only lost two games in the tournament, and both of those were against U-17 sides, and they were the only team to score against the tournament winners, Elana.
“They lost that group game 3-1, but the third goal for Elana only came at the end of the game as the lads were pushing for an equaliser; while the French side also scored a late goal to beat us in the semi-final.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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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