Sports
Galway United battle hard but get nothing from clash against Dunne’s old club
GALWAY United suffered their third defeat in four games on Tuesday, losing 2-0 to Cork City at Turner’s Cross.
Tommy Dunne’s men earned their first victory on returning to the Premier Division this season against Dundalk last Friday, but they couldn’t back it up on their trip down south although Galway United provided stiffer resistance than the scoreline suggests.
Dunne will be anxious that they re-focus for this Friday evening’s match against Longford Town at Eamonn Deacy Park – it is one of the teams Galway should be targeting to take points off, which could become vital in the battle for survival later in the year.
Former Galway United player Karl Sheppard headed Cork’s opening goal 35 minutes into the first half and from there it always looked likely the hosts would edge what was their 1,000th League of Ireland game since it was founded in 1984.
Galway never threatened in the opening half but had a couple of chances on the resumption to draw level – Gary Shanahan’s shot was deflected out for a corner on 57 minutes while Stephen’s Walsh’s header from the corner was nudged over the bar by Jake Keegan.
Keegan had a chance later on in the game with an effort that was dragged wide but by that stage Cork had established a two-goal lead.
Gavan Holohan went close just before Alan Bennett headed to the net, getting on the end of a Billy Dennehy corner delivery to double their advantage.
Shanahan had a chance late on to bag a consolation score for Galway but he was denied by goalkeeper Mark McNulty.
This was Dunne’s first visit to Turner’s Cross as a manager since he left the club in 2013 and he was warmly received by the local supporters.
He was forced to field without Sam Oji, who was sent off in the win over Dundalk; the goal-scorer last Friday, Enda Curran, was also left out due to injury, while Colm Horgan had flu.
The suspension of Oji paved the way for Galway’s newest signing, Kevin Garcia, to feature in his first start with the club.
The 24-year-old defender from Queens in New York made his breakthrough in the US College leagues representing Villanova University before being drafted by MLS side New England Revolution in 2012.
Following spells of first team football at Long Island Rough Riders and Icon FC in New Jersey, Garcia secured a move to Sweden with IFK Luleå where he has been plying his trade since August 2013.
A dynamic, left-footed big and strong defender, Garcia had been training with Galway for a number of weeks leading up to his debut Tuesday. Prior to his debut, the American expressed relief at finally having put pen to paper.
“It has been a long, tedious process,” he said. “I’ve been in talks with Tommy Dunne since the end of January, I’m just glad that it’s finally sorted itself out and now I’m ready to concentrate on my football and help the team out in any way I can.
“Every week is better. In my first week I was a little tired, I was just getting my fitness back. I knew I needed to get myself back to where I was initially, I feel confident now.
All the guys have been so welcoming, it’s nice to have another American in the group too (Jake Keegan), it made the transition that bit easier but as I said, I have no complaints, all the guys have been very welcoming,” added Garcia.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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