In-form Galway United frontman on the mark twice in latest league win

Galway United   2

Paul Buttner in Wexford

THE goals continued to flow for in-form striker Vinny Faherty as he scored twice to help maintain Galway United’s fine start to the season with a deserved win at Ferrycarrig Park last Friday night.

After an evenly contested first half, Tommy Dunne’s side took control in the second, bolstered by their opening goal five minutes in.

Stephen Walsh was fouled by Youths’ midfielder Chris Kenny with the indiscretion clinically punished by the Tribesmen.

Skipper Ryan Connolly arced the resulting free-kick into the area where Faherty found the far corner of the net with a crisp header. Frantic home defending prevented that lead being double on 63 minutes.

Faherty’s initial effort was blocked by Youths’ defender Stephen Last, but the danger remained as keeper Graham Doyle had to produce the save of the night when diving smartly down to his right to keep out Pádraic Cunningham’s low drive.

Galway were well on top now, however, and duly scored again in the 69th minute with what was a replica of their first goal.

Again Connolly’s delivery was sublime as he sent a diagonal free-kick into the area. Once more Faherty was on the end of it as he rose at the far post to head past Doyle for his seventh of the season.

While pleased with his double, Faherty was disgusted with himself for missing a chance in the first half when he felt Galway had underperformed.

“We were very disappointed with ourselves in the first half and there were some harsh words said at half-time,” said the 28-year-old.

“But I think we gave Tommy what he was looking for in the second half. We controlled the game a bit better, managed it better. Thankfully we got the chances and took two of them to take the three points.”

Despite their being almost identical in execution, Faherty said the goals were not necessarily something they'd worked on in training.

“Ryan Connolly deliveries from set-pieces are very good. You just need to get yourself on the end of them,” said Faherty. “I actually had the best chance of the game in the first half and I missed it.

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