Late OÕReilly strike gives SD Galway deserved share of the spoils in Drom

SD Galway 2Wexford Youths 2

SD Galway snatched a last gasp draw at Drom on Saturday night, but it could have been so much more. Certainly the home side achieved this point the hard way by gifting the visitors two goals, both in somewhat bizarre fashion.

Wexford found themselves in the lead after two minutes and they could hardly have believed their luck, when SD Galway didn’t clear their lines properly and then failed to close down Joe Mulcachy and his speculative cross found Thomas Croke, whose looping header floated over James Keane.

The home side came more into the game and seemed to recover well from the early bombshell and they pressed forward as Willie Enubele and Mixie Harty got to grips with the midfield battle.

However after 12 minutes it seemed that the home side’s spirited fightback had come to nothing when referee Ralph Pieper signalled a goal for Wexford when Thomas Croke’s strike had clearly come back off the post – protests and consultations with his assistant persuaded the referee to change his mind.

This incident gave the home side some heart and they dominated the remainder of the half, creating several chances, but it was in the final minute of play that they equalised. Timmy Molloy cracked a great free kick to the far post where Enda Curran rose highest and headed a great goal.

The opening 10 minutes of the second period was very even, but the home side showed their Achilles heel when after 14 minutes they over elaborated at the back and succeeded only in creating a simple chance for the visitors, which Joe Mulcahy took with aplomb.

Once more SD Galway had a mountain to climb, but they ultimately proved they were up to the challenge as they kept their composure, took the game to Wexford and created several chances. Just when it seemed that their efforts would go unrewarded, substitute Damien O’Reilly popped up and grabbed the equaliser.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.