Ryan’s heroics save Galway Utd from FAI Cup trimming

Galway United 0

Bohemians 2

THE straw-clutchers had a field day after the final whistle on Friday night, but the reality is that Galway United’s season is over in everything but name before the primary schools re-open after they bowed out of the FAI Cup.

It was an improved performance on the display against Longford Town the previous weekend, but that wouldn’t have been too difficult even for a squad that brought new meaning to the word ‘under-achievement’ this season.

Speaking after the game, United manager Alan Murphy admitted the season was “average, it was mediocre, even below average at times, for the group of players we had”, and while at times on Friday they gave a glimpse of what they are capable of, it was nowhere enough to rescue a campaign which will see one of the pre-season title favourites finish in the bottom half of the table.

When United and Shane Keegan parted ways in June, Murphy was appointed as manager until the end of the season, and he has shown enough to deserve to be in place for the 2019 campaign. If that is the case, he could do worse than look for advice from forestry service, Coilte, between now and March, as he has a lot of dead wood to get rid of ahead of the new campaign.

Goalkeeper Tadhg Ryan was outstanding on Friday night; Conor Barry and Carlton Ubaezuonu also caught the eye; while Eoin McCormack and Stephen Walsh also kept going for 90 minutes, but as we have seen all season, that is not enough to win a First Division game, never a mind a Cup tie against top-flight opposition.

United started with five at the back in a bid to quench the fire in a Bohs side that had hit 13 goals in their previous three games. It worked for six minutes.

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

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