Late lapses in concentration prove costly as Utd let winning hand slip

Galway United 1

Drogheda United 2

Cian O’Connell

It has been a season of epic misery for Galway United, but of all the defeats suffered Saturday night’s Terryland Park loss could certainly be classed as the most unfortunate.

On a wicked night of incessant rain and furious winds about 400 diehards witnessed a match that Galway could – and most of those present would argue should – have won. It wasn’t that Galway’s football was particularly classy or anything, but there was enough courage and commitment about this display to offer drops of encouragement.

Still the statistic which truly mattered was the final scoreline and it was Drogheda United, who prevailed as Galway’s late lapses in concentration were ruthlessly punished.

Considering the way the year has unfolded, to see Galway actually trade on terms with an opposing team was heartening. Matches involving United have followed a horribly familiar pattern since March, marshmallow soft early goals conceded with scant hope of recovering once the maroon net had been rattled, but this was different.

Ultimately another reversal was added to the lengthy list and that was irksome, but Galway were gutsy and in these distressing hours that was a small comfort.

Galway’s opening period display was solid and Jumbo Brennan’s side shaded the game early on as they went about their business in a determined fashion, making tackles and interventions with leadership evident in every line on the park too.

At the back Eric Browne was unfussy, but contributed with a wholeheartedness that showed his desire for the shirt. In the middle of the park Alan Murphy tried to play in the correct manner, with the conditions obviously being a mitigating factor. In attack Mikey Gilmore’s pluck troubled Drogheda, who were the latest outfit to be bothered by the lively frontrunner’s high nuisance value.

That meant that Galway got through a first half that was short on chances without being overly extended. Goalkeeper John Egan dealt with the routine chores quietly and with opportunities scarce the central interval talking point was the 41st minute incident when Gilmore tumbled in the Drogheda area following a Dave Rogers challenge.

It was a legitimate penalty claim, but it wasn’t too controversial a decision when referee Padraig Sutton waved play on, ensuring the teams departed deadlocked at the break.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.