Late agony for Galway United at the Brandywell

Galway United 1

Viewed in the narrow world that is sport, this was a heart-breaking defeat for Galway United on Friday night, the concession of a 92nd minute goal denying Tommy Dunne’s side a point and ending their unbeaten start to the season in the process.

But it was nothing compared to the real heartbreak that book-ended this trip to the Brandywell in mid-March, two incidents that put life into real perspective.

The first was a pre-match presentation made by Gavan Duffy and Dominick Walsh on behalf of United to Terri Louise Farren, the wife of former Derry City striker and the club’s record goalscorer, Mark Farren, who lost his five-year battle with brain cancer last month at the ridiculously young age of 33.

It was a fine gesture by United, and one that earned the club a standing ovation from the crowd of about 1,600 at the ground. But more tragedy, on an even more unimaginable scale, was to strike the home club less than 48 hours later.

Joshua Daniels was introduced as a 66th minute sub for the home side on Friday night, and he had a hand in their 75th minute equaliser. He was also one of the first players to rush over to fellow sub Nathan Boyle after he scored the 92nd minute winner, revelling in the outpouring of pure ecstasy that comes with such late drama.

His world was to turn upside down before the weekend was out, however: the drowning tragedy in Buncrana on Sunday evening has robbed Daniels of his mother, his sister, and two of his nephews. It seems trite to dissect and give an opinion on a game of football after such a tragedy.

Friday’s game was the second away trip in four days, and the third in four games, for United and the long trips eventually took their toll with the concession of that injury-time winner. They were nowhere near as dominant as they had been in their previous three games, but for all of Derry’s possession, United were looking comfortable in their role as early season surprise packets.

They looked more than comfortable in defending the lead given to them in the 24th minute by Kevin Devaney, but that deficiency which haunted them last season – the inability to defend a set-piece – saw them concede an equaliser with 15 minutes remaining, before a good old fashioned hoof up the pitch paved the way for that late winner.

United made one change from the side that drew the previous Monday night away to Sligo Rovers, with Enda Curran coming in for Ruairi Keating. The home side fielded the same starting XI for the fourth successive game, and were the first to settle, with United barely having a meaningful touch in the first 10 minutes.

Full report in this week's Connacht Tribune.