Ryan's mistake denies United priceless win against UCD

Date Published: {J}

Galway United 2UCD 2

Darragh McDonagh

AN unfortunate error by Galway United goalkeeper Barry Ryan gifted UCD an equaliser and a share of the spoils during an entertaining encounter at Terryland Park on Friday.

UCD had opened the scoring after just four minutes through David McMillan but Galway United began to dominate as they settled into the game and overturned the Students’ lead with goals from Anto Flood and Stephen O’Donnell before half-time.

However, the visitors restored parity in calamitous circumstances against the run of play moments before the break. Captain Barry Ryan slipped as he controlled a back pass from Ciaran Foley, allowing Chris Mulhall to steal the ball and roll it into an unguarded net.Both sides had graced an open first half with good football and, poised at 2-2, it seemed as though more goals would surely follow.

That promise, however. did not materialise in the concluding 45 minutes, though chances were continually created, and the teams had to settle for a share of the points in a game that could have gone either way.

UCD had settled into the match quicker than their opponents and had worked Barry Ryan as early as the second minute when Ciaran Kilduff set up David McMillan for a shot from the left side of the area, which was well stopped by the United captain.

He was tested again two minutes later after Mulhall lofted a delightful ball forward which was latched onto by Kilduff on the edge of the area. He drove a solid shot at goal that required an acrobatic save from Ryan.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.