’Keepers on top as United and UCD share spoils in incident packed clash

Date Published: 22-Mar-2011

Galway United 0

UCD 0

Keith Kelly

Galway United collected their first point of the season in Terryland Park on Friday night, but manager Sean Connor could not decide if it was a point gained or two points lost after a game high on incident but low in quality.

United created the better chances, and would have won comfortably were it not for some heroics by UCD ‘keeper Ger Barron, but on the other hand the visitors had a 46th minute penalty saved by United ‘keeper Greg Fleming , and he also produced a couple of other top-drawer saves to keep out the UCD attack.

“It is our first point so it is probably a point gained in a way. Games against UCD, Bray, and Drogheda are the games we want to win, so what we will have to do is pick up points other places where we won’t be expected to.

“You cannot legislate for the ‘keeper havi

ng an outstanding game, and the save from Karl Moore at the end was the best one for me. I was right behind it in the dug-out and he has bent his shot and we thought it would just nestle in the corner, but my own ‘keeper did just as well with the penalty save.

“That was a good penalty, right in the corner and he has dealt with a couple of other balls really well. I think it was a game in which both ’keepers did well,” said Connor, who also revealed what he described as the “levels of negativity” towards the club around the city.

“Anybody who is critical of the League of Ireland should take note because you won’t see many scoreless draws better than that. Thankfully there was over 1,000 people here, but there still is a small bit of negativity.

“I am sick of having to apologise for managing Galway United when I am talking to certain people around Galway. I am not going to continue apologising for being the manager of Galway United, my job is to keep playing attractive football and stay in this division.

“The begrudgers and knockers who are still there should go and look after themselves because I am happy with the people that are coming. If the crowds keep coming hopefully we will be able to strengthen the squad in July and I can get this football club where I think it deserves to be,” he said.

One of the priorities has to be bringing in a striker, as despite Barron’s heroics on Friday night, United would have won on Friday had they an experienced target man up front to finish one of the many chances they created.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.