O’Sullivan’s harsh red card proves fatal for Galway Utd
Galway United 0
St Patrick’s Athletic 3
WHILE Galway United had legitimate excuses about crucial factors that went against them, Tuesday's loss at Eamonn Deacy Park against St Patrick’s Athletic was still a most worrying result.
United were undone by the wily Dubliners, who had the raw power to punish the locals during a frustrating 12 minute spell either side of the interval. Galway United manager Tommy Dunne offered a fair and honest post match assessment lamenting the ‘looseness’ in the Tribesmen’s play, but a lingering issue is that this team can be too nice and accommodating.
Seasoned outfits such as the Saints, who were especially eager to secure a positive result, possess the necessary grit and guile to expose any frailties. Indeed John Sullivan, skipper in the absence of regular captain Ryan Connolly, was one of the few United players to commit to the physical exchanges, but his evening was cut short in hugely controversial fashion in the 40th minute.
Sullivan was given an extremely harsh second yellow card by referee Padraigh Sutton for a challenge on Shane McEleney. It was certainly a match altering moment, as a game that had been both entertaining and eventful suddenly turned sour for United, who fell behind moments later on the stroke of half-time.
Sean Hoare climbed highest in the area to head home an inviting Billy Dennehy corner with Galway miserably failing to deal with a routine situation. Six minutes after the restart Dennehy, who nearly joined the Tribesmen in the winter, lashed a second goal from a free-kick.
Pat’s were reduced to 10 men themselves on 56 minutes when Graham Kelly was dismissed, also for a second caution following a foul on Marc Ludden, but it didn’t really matter by then. The damage was done meaning substitute Conan Byrne’s 87th minute strike was merely an insurance goal.
Despite a shaky start initially United recovered with Vinny Faherty, Armin Aganovic, and Ruairi Keating all going close before the break. When Sullivan was given his marching orders, though, United were put under duress. “I felt we were playing well, we had a couple of chances, we should have taken them, but we didn't take them,” Dunne commented.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.