Disastrous injury-time defeat adds to woes of Galway Utd

Derry City 2

By Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park

THE passing of time does little to clear the mind of the brutal finale in Friday night’s League of Ireland Premier Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park when an additional time goal sunk Galway United to a defeat they did not deserve against Europe chasing Derry City.

The defeat continues to highlight the recent poor form of a Utd side whose gradual decline is reflected by their lowly league position and where just two draws were the highlight since their last league win, eight games ago in mid-June. An impressive start to the season saw United unbeaten in their opening seven games and, in the process, they picked up 16 points (four wins) in the opening quarter of the season.

However, the trend since then must be a cause for concern as just eight points (two wins) were secured in quarter two, while quarter three saw just sicpoints (one win) accumulated. Throughout that period, the number of goals scored has reduced, while the number of concessions has increased.

All in all it builds an unhealthy picture for the closing months of the season. What makes the issue more problematic is that second from bottom Sligo Rovers have picked up 14 points from their last eight games and now lie just a point behind United, as both clubs try to avoid the relegation play-off position.

The picture looks gloomy, but in fairness Galway United deserved more than just one point from their two most recent home league games, where a draw against Shamrock Rovers and a loss against Derry were really punishing.

Friday’s encounter saw the home side start well and, overall, offered a greater threat than the visitors, An early Jimmy Keohane goal should have been built upon, but when things are not going in your favour it just magnifies the difficulties you face.

Timber was tested, saves were made and good opportunities were spurned to highlight their evening’s work, but the concession of goals in the closing minutes of each half was really kicking someone when they were down.

That said, Derry have their cause to fight for as they chase a European spot in a competitive top half of the table and they too suffered punishment in the contest as they had none of their starting back three on the park at the finish. Mark Connolly and Alex Bannon departed through injury, while they also ended the contest with ten players after Jamie Stott collected a second yellow card on 85 minutes.

The United starting eleven showed three changes to the side that saw off Salthill Devon in the FAI Cup a week previously, with Brendan Clarke, Colm Horgan and Ed McCarthy in for Evan Watts, Axel Piesold and Jeannot Esua, who was out injured along with Greg Cunningham. The home side were willing to push on from the early exchanges and only an offside flag denied Jimmy Keohane a reward after he got on the end of a Colm Horgan delivery.

At the other end, a Connolly header was well over, before a goalmouth scramble caused concern until the ball was eventually cleared. United's early enterprise was rewarded on 17 minutes with the lead goal. A neat passing movement culminated in Stephen Walsh setting up Keohane and from the angle of the area he smashed home a wonderful shot beyond Brian Maher, The home side were very much in control of proceedings as the impressive David Hurley kept them on the front foot.

Pictured: Galway United's Patrick Hickey is caught in a sandwich between Brandon Fleming and Jamie Stott of Derry City during Friday's Premier Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park. Photo: Joe O'Shaughnessy.