Match Report: Galway United 2-1 Longford Town FC
Match Report by James Donnelly
SSE Airtricity League First Division
Galway United FC 2-1 Longford Town FC
Friday 17th May 2019 | Kick-off: 7.45pm
Eamonn Deacy Park
Galway United took all three points at Eamonn Deacy Park tonight in what is Longford’s only second defeat of the season so far.
Two second half goals from talisman Vinny Faherty saw the tribesmen cancel out Dean Byrne’s first half opener and seal the win for the home side.
Galway had the first major chance of the game on 6 minutes when a mix up between Town defender Mick McDonnell and goal-keeper Lee Steacy saw the ball come loose but Steacy did well to get down and gather the ball under pressure from a Galway player.
De Town opened the scoring on 11 minutes when a mistake by Nugent in defence for Galway saw Dean Byrne punish the home side to put Longford in front. A high ball from the Red and Black was headed back towards goal by Nugent but he mistakenly thought Horgan was there to collect when in fact he was just behind him. Horgan and Byrne raced after the ball but it was the Longford Town player who got there first and he tapped it under the arms of the Galway keeper and into the net.
Galway could have been level on 34 minutes when Cian Flaherty had a looping header magnificently saved by Lee Steacy in the Longford goal. Only moments later, Steacy was called into action again when he denied Conor Melody’s low flying shot.
At half time, Longford probably deserved to be leading but Galway had their chances and knew it was still all to play for in the second half.
Dean Byrne who got Longford’s only goal v Galway United tonight.
The home side got their equalizer within minutes of the restart. Marc Ludden with a cross to Vinny Faherty who placed a perfect header beyond the reach of Lee Steacy in goal on 49 minutes.
Galway could have had their second on 52 minutes when Donal Higgins dispossessed Conor Kenna and went through 1 on 1 with Lee Steacy but once again, De Town goal-keeper got down well to make another save.
Substitute Sam Verdon had a chance to put Longford ahead just aftet the hour mark. Some good build up play saw Shane Elworthy receive the ball down the right wing, his cross was headed clear but it eventually found Verdon and his shot forced a good save from Horgan in the Galway net.
Longford had another missed opportunity on 69 minutes when Aaron Dobbs raced clear of the Galway defence and was 1 on 1 with Horgan but he sliced his shot wide. Dean Byne then had a chance only 5 minutes later. Leaving two Galway players in his wake, he drove from midfield at the Galway defence but his shot was straight into the hands of Horgan.
Galway looked the more likely to score in the remaining minutes and they did just that. Nearly a carbon copy of his first goal, Vinny Faherty again got in between the Longford defenders to place a header into the back of the net with only 5 minutes remaining.
De Town tried for an equaliser but the home side ran out deserving winners in the end.
Pictures by Ken Keenan
TEAM LINE-UPS:
Galway United: Kevin Horgan, Christopher Horgan, Marc Ludden, Stephen Walsh (C), Maurice Nugent, Conor Melody, Vinny Faherty, Cian Murphy, Wilson Waweru, Ivan Gamarra, Donal Higgins.
Subs: James Tierney (GK), Iarfhlaith Davoren (replaced Higgins), Colin Kelly, Ronan Asgari, Mark Hannon (replaced Faherty), Shane Doherty (replaced Waweru), Matthew Barrett.
Longford Town: Lee Steacy, Shane Elworthy, Anto Breslin, Mick McDonnell, Conor Kenna, Peter Hopkins, Aodh Dervin, Dean Zambra, Adam Evans, Dean Byrne, Aaron Dobbs.
Subs: Jack Menton (GK), Jamie Doyle (replaced Hopkins), Carlton Ubaezuonu (replaced Evans), Sam Verdon (replaced Dervin), Karl Chambers, Sean Brennan, Kevin Knight.