Controversy as disallowed goals prove costly for Galway League

Galway League  1

TWO questionable offside decisions was to cost Galway dearly as they lost their opening contest in the Oscar Traynor Cup in Ennis on Saturday evening.

Having taken an early lead from the best player on the park when Jason Molloy fired home, they had a Ronan Caldwell effort controversially cancelled out by offside flag, before the real punishment came deep in additional time when another mysterious flag cancelled out what appeared to be a good Shane Duggan equaliser.

Overall Garrett Gorman’s side deserved some reward for their efforts as they more than matched the home side, who did their best work in the opening half. With a number of players unavailable, Gorman blooded almost an entire team of newcomers at this level and they made the perfect start when taking the lead on just six minutes.

Former Galway United stalwart Jason Molloy picked up a Gearoid  ’Leidhinn throw in about 35 yards from goal and let fly with a shot that flew past a stricken Barry Ryan for a 1-0 advantage. Indeed, the visitors might have made an earlier breakthrough when central defender Conor Mullen luckily deflected a Geoffrey Power shot just over the crossbar.

Now a mess in the visitors rearguard had presented the home side with a goal chance as Ian Collins shot wide, before Clare levelled matters on 15 minutes with a softly conceded free kick on the edge of the box.

A long ball tempted goalkeeper John Egan outside his area and when he upended Eoin Hayes, it gave a shooting chance to Dave McCarthy. The striker made no mistake with a low shot that slid past a wall that was either badly constructed, or the goalkeeper was in the wrong position.

Galway thought that they had regained the lead on 21 minutes when Power collected an O Leidhinn ball down the line and fed Caldwell in the box. The Hibernians striker duly finished from close range, but was inexplicably flagged for offside.

As play ebbed and flowed from end to end, chances were created in both goalmouths. Stephen Kelly and Dave McCarthy went close for the home side, while James Ryan and Declan Cullen did likewise for the visitors.

The Clare matchwinner arrived on 35 minutes when Eoin Hayes was allowed to waltz around two defenders on the end line before side stepping Egan and tapping into an empty net for a 2-1 lead. The goalkeeper collected a hand injury in the incident and was replaced by TJ Forde.

The visitors certainly looked the busier outfit on the restart as Caldwell twice went close while Corrib Celtic’s David Coen also dragged an effort wide. As the contest intensified, it was Galway who looked the side most likely to score and they almost levelled matters on 65 minutes. Substitute Shane Duggan fed Jason Molloy in the box, but his shot was well saved by Ryan, with central defender Stephen Kelly eventually clearing the ball off the line.

Off target efforts by former College and Hibernians player Niall Whelan and Eoin Hynes offered a Clare threat, before Forde had his only save to make when keeping out a Colin Ryan effort. In the last quarter, all the intensity came from Galway, but unfortunately, the reward was not forthcoming as the home defence held firm.

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