McCormack bags a hat-trick in big away FAI Cup victory

North End United  0

Galway United 4

EOIN McCormack bagged his first hat-trick in senior football – and in the process became just the second Galway United player to claim the match ball in an FAI Cup tie – as Galway United eased past the challenge of reigning FAI Junior Cup champions, North End United, in Wexford on Saturday evening.

All four goals came in the first-half, which was tough on the home side as they did pose a threat in those opening 45 minutes, but United were completely dominant after the restart, despite failing to add to the scoreline.

“We had a bit of luck in the first-half, to be honest, I don’t think we were that good in the first-half. I thought our goals flattered us a bit, but we dominated the second-half,” United manager, Alan Murphy, admitted after the game.

“There were glimpses of good stuff but there is loads of stuff to work on. We put them to the sword a little bit, but it should have been more convincing in my book. Still, you have to beat what’s put in front of you,” Murphy said.

The home side should have been at least a goal to the good before United opened their account. Tadhg Ryan got down well to push away a Gary Dempsey header in the 3rd minute; and then spread himself well to block a Gerry Byrne shot two minutes later after the Wexford man found himself clear through on goal after a slip by Stephen Walsh.

Steady rain for most of the afternoon in Wexford gave way to a heavy downpour just before kick-off, leading to an oily surface on which both sets of players struggled to keep their feet, but the visitors used them slick surface to good effect to carve out their opening goal in the 7th minute.

Chris Horgan played an infield ball from the right wing to Evan Murphy, and the ball was zipped along the surface to Stephen Walsh, Conor Barry, and Ryan Connolly, who caressed a pass inside the full-back for the over-lapping Marc Ludden.

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

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