Galway United fly out of the traps only to falter late on

Galway United 2

Shelbourne 3

FROM a fairytale start to a disappointing finale, Galway United’s opening game against the Airtricity First Division favourites provided drama galore as a huge home crowd witnessed a young side almost spring a surprise at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday evening.

Alan Murphy’s charges are not fancied as title contenders, but against an odds-on Shelbourne, United looked more than comfortable against the highly rated opposition and it took a late three goal blast to ruin what looked like a dream start to the campaign.

The thousand or so who took part in the Reclaim the Dyke march up from the Plots were in the stadium early and helped create a smashing atmosphere and United responded in impressive fashion.

Now young Colin Kelly made a name for himself as a goal scorer in last season’s U17 National League and, on this occasion, he scored his first senior goal with an audacious effort that owed everything to the class, ability and vision of the young man.

The second goal wasn’t very shabby either as Vinny Faherty followed up with a finish of  equal quality as the home side found themselves two up after just 16 minutes. Indeed, they could have added another shortly afterwards as a Conor Barry corner whipped across the face of goal took a deflection out for another set play and could just as easily have finished up in the back of the net.

The early goals certainly provided the highlight of the home performance and while offensively they created little thereafter, defensively they looked assured as skipper Stephen Walsh and Adam Rooney repelled the visitors’ rather limited direct ball approach.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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