United pay the price for home struggles in play-offs quest

UCD 2

Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park

GALWAY United's inability to bring their excellent away form back to Eamonn Deacy Park proved to be their downfall in the team’s quest to make the First Division play-offs as they came up just short following this draw with UCD on Tuesday night.

Going into the game, United had to win in order to overtake Cabinteely and make the last play-off spot, but they also required title chasing Drogheda to defeat Cabinteely, who lay in fifth position in the table.

The County Louth side duly obliged and were crowned champions as two second half goals gave them a 2-0 victory against a ten man home side. All that was need now was a United win and all looked good for a long time as they comfortably hung on to Stephen Christopher's 42nd minute goal. In fact, at one stage they were up to fourth in the table as Longford Town trailed by 2-1 against Wexford, before two late goals for UCD changed everything.

On 81 minutes, right full Harry McEvoy swung in a deep cross that picked out the inrushing Evan Weir and he buried an effort past Horgan to tie up matters. More punishment was to follow on 89 minutes when Weir hammered home a free kick from all of 30 yards to put UCD 2-1 ahead.

United responded and skipper Shane Duggan drilled home a long-range cracker of his own to tie it up at 2-2. It was their only shot on goal in the second half and within seconds the clock had beaten them, and a season that was resurrected mid-campaign came to a shuddering halt as United finished outside the play-off positions.

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

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