Miracle is needed for Galway United to avoid relegation

Date Published: {J}

Monaghan United 2

Galway United 0

Keith Kelly in Gortakeegan

GALWAY United’s Premier Division status is hanging by a thread after Jumbo Brennan’s side suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Monaghan United in Gortakeegan on Tuesday night in the first leg of the promotion/relegation play-off.

The home side were full value for their win, and should have wrapped up the tie on the night, something which both managers agreed with after the full-time whistle, but in scrambling around for a ray of hope for the Tribesmen ahead of the second leg tonight, it is the fact that the deficit is a not insurmountable two goals.

Roddy Collins’ side scored early and late to take command of the tie, but until they grabbed their second in the 87th minute, it looked like the fates were, for once, looking favourably on United. At times their goal lived a charmed life, with Conor Winn pulling off a couple of excellent saves, while Monaghan also had one effort taken off the line, another that crashed off the crossbar, and missed a couple of clear openings.

As for United, they struggled to create any chances of note, one effort from Bobby Ryan being made to look more threatening than it was by Gabriel Sava’s save for the TV cameras, and it was a lack of creativity which infuriated their manager.

“We showed a lack of creativity, a will to win. The lads have gone through a tough season, being beaten every week, but they need to push themselves more, and we’ve got to go for it from the start  tonight now.

“We deserve to be two down, it could have been three or four to be honest. I’ve seen Monaghan play four times this season, and I’ve told our players what to do, how they play, who their players are, but I can’t go out and play the game for them so they have to ask themselves ‘am I up to this standard?’,” Brennan said after the game.

Collins was equally adamant his side should have made their first-half superiority in particular reflected on the scoreline, and insists that while the two-goal lead his side take to Terryland Park tonight offers a degree of comfort, he is expecting a tough game.

“The chances we created, we should have added a few more. I was delighted to get the second goal, it gives you a little bit of confidence for the trip back to Galway. We played well, but we allowed Galway recover after we scored early, and we still have a hell of a lot to do,” Collins said.

The home side dominated the first half, and threatened as early as the second minute when Eric Foley’s cross deflected off Yob Son and into the path of the unmarked Declan O’Brien, but Winn was quickly off his line to smother at the striker’s feet.

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