United striker hits extra time winner against Bohs to book semi-final place

GALWAY UNITED  1

 BOHEMIANS  0

(AFTER EXTRA TIME)

GALWAY United defeated Bohemians for the second time in three days as Jake Keegan’s header in extra time proved the winner at a rainy Eamonn Deacy Park tosend them into the semi-finals of the EA Sports Cup.

Monday’s game failed to serve up anything like the classic which unfolded last Friday but United got the job done again – with Keegan making amends for several missed chances by heading in Jason Molloy’s cross four minutes into extra time.

United boss Tommy Dunne made three changes from the team which began the previous goalfest between the sides with Conor Winn coming for Conor Gleeson between the posts, and Gary Shanahan and Alex Byrne also returning to the side.

The first real moment of noise from the considerably smaller attendance came after 15 minutes when Keegan showed a neat touch before shooting inches over Dean Delaney’s bar.

A minute later good football from United saw Ryan Connolly play a slick through ball to Shanahan, who in turn flicked it on for Keegan but Delaney was alert to the danger and was quick to gather.

United lost Kevin Garcia on 21 minutes when the America picked up a knock and he was replaced by David O’Leary, a substitution which saw Connolly move up front to partner Padraic Cunningham and Keegan drop back to the left flank.

Both sides were scrapping it out with little sign of the excitement which ensued in Friday’s league meeting, but the lively Cunningham managed to get a good shot away on the half hour mark which was deflected wide by Bohs defender Stephen Best.

Connolly whipped in the resulting corner which fell to the waiting O’Leary at the back post, and as he clipped it back across the goal, Stephen Walsh rose with an acrobatic scissor kick which was unlucky not to hit the target.

In the second half Conor Winn was forced to make his first meaningful save of the night when Keelon Dillon’s cross was headed goalwards by Anto Murphy and Winn tipped over, but the flag was already up for offside.

On the hour mark, Gypsies veteran Jason Byrne arrowed a low drive wide before he almost headed into his own goal at the other end when Connolly’s free kick came his way and the ball bounced clear.

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