Battle-weary Galway Utd fail to spark as winning run ends

Galway United 0

A laboured performance lacking any kind of spark saw Galway United miss out on the chance to bridge a 21-year gap when they slumped to a two goal defeat in United Park on Friday night.

Following wins over Derry City and Bohemian FC, the visitors went into the game looking for a third successive win in a single Premier Division season for the first time since October 1994 – they did win the final game of the 2008 season and the first two of the 2009 campaign.

However, the toll of three games in eight days – including being taken to extra time in the EA Sports Cup by Bohemians last Monday week – took its toll on Tommy Dunne’s side as their hosts ran out comfortable winners in what was a very poor game.

United did have their chances, most notably Padraic Cunningham’s one-on-one with goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann in the 28th minute, but as the game wore on the visitors tired more and more, and the statistic that they failed to fire a single effort on target in the second-half tells its own story.

Dunne admitted after the game that his side was tired, while club captain Paul Sinnott was brave enough to admit that the home side looked the hungrier of the two on the night, and it is hard to disagree with him.

From the first whistle, Drogheda played at a tempo the visitors were unable to match, pressing high up the pitch and winning nearly every 50/50 contest, and plenty more that were not weighted in their favour.

They were backed by a decent travelling support, as well as President Michael D Higgins, but the hosts struggles with the simple task of playing the national anthem before the game signalled that this was not going to be a good night for those from west of the Shannon, no matter what their involvement on the night.

While Drogheda were the better side from the kick-off, neither side made much of an attacking impact in the early stages, with the first real goalmouth incident being a complete freak in the 17th minute. Sean Thornton – who absolutely lorded it over United in midfield – hooked in a corner from the left which missed everyone and arrowed towards the net, only the hit Cunningham on the line and bounce to safety.

United needed to put in a few tackles to show their hosts they were up for what was turning into a real turgid affair – the first free-kick of the game didn’t come until the 22nd minute – but in truth they couldn’t get near Thornton or Mark Hughes, while Lee Duffy was proving a real menace playing off the shoulder of the last man.

The visitors should have taken the lead in the 28th minute when Cunningham held off the challenge of Drogheda ’keeper Michael Daly to get through on goal, but Schlingermann got down well to block his effort, and Enda Curran couldn’t direct the rebound past the nearest defender.

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