Utd’s teenagers offer hope for future in final home league tie

Galway United 1

Wexford FC 1

AS supporters departed Eamonn Deacy Park for the final time in 2018 on Friday night, they left after seeing what has become an all too common occurrence by their side in a year to forget for all involved with Galway United.

A game where the Tribesmen dominated proceedings practically from the first to the final whistle again saw United throw away another two points, as a failure to take their chances allowed a poor Wexford team off the hook.

Against the run of play, Wexford would take the lead through Dean George just before half time, but that goal would be cancelled out by a Carlton Ubaezuonu header on 63 minutes as the sides shared the spoils.

But if there was a silver lining to a game which was of little significance to either side, it was Galway United manager Alan Murphy giving six players from the club’s academy ranks a chance to play at senior level.

Christopher Horgan and Adam Rooney have become mainstays of the team recently while Colin Kelly, U17 captain Donal Higgins, Dara Costello and Dara Mulgannon were all given a first chance to start with all six impressing and giving supporters a glimpse of a brighter future.

Speaking after the game, United’s all-time leading goal scorer was keen to praise his young players  who he felt showed were ready to make the step up to senior level.

“To be brutally honest with you I’m delighted with that performance” Murphy claimed. “I thought some of my younger players really stood up and were pretty much on the front foot wanting to be in the game, they wanted the ball and just showed real experience beyond their years.”

The United manager was also keen to stress that the game was far from insignificant in his eyes, stating that for many of those on show it had huge importance in terms of their futures as professional footballers.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and  county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.

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