Airtricity League Premier Division report: Galway United 2, Dundalk 0
Galway United’s aspirations for European football received a much-needed boost, thanks to a brace by veteran forward Stephen Walsh in the second half, adding more concern to Dundalk’s relegation fears at Oriel Park. Walsh was able to score two headers, capitalising on the defensive mistakes by Dundalk, enabling the team managed by John Caulfield to secure their first away victory in five matches. This propelled them to be on par with Shamrock Rovers and Waterford FC in terms of points, with the former two teams edging ahead due to goal difference and securing third and fourth positions respectively.
This win brings relief for the westerners, marking their third shutout victory against Dundalk this season. However, for Jon Daly’s team, this means added worries as they teeter on the edge of relegation, with a slim two-point lead apart from neighbour Drogheda United positioned ninth.
The Dundalk team, observing the eight-year anniversary of their notable 3-0 triumph against Bate Borisov, is currently dealing with a threatening fall to the First Division unless there’s a substantial improvement in their performance, which was below par in this match with a single shot on target.
The first half was largely balanced with both sides having their moments; Dundalk’s Ryan O’Kane coming closest to scoring in the 14th minute when a header from Jeannot Esua fell his way but he could do no better than toe-poke wide.
Galway played with a renewed intensity in the second half and took the lead at the 53rd minute courtesy of dubious goalkeeping by Felix Goddard, on loan from Blackburn Rovers. Bobby Burns’s cross resulted in a failed clearance by the home side and Walsh headed the ball through Goddard’s arms. The Galway team had another golden opportunity to score just two minutes later, but Jimmy Keohane missed a chance that would potentially be the miss of the season; he fired over the crossbar from less than eight yards out, with Walsh setting him up generously with an open-goal opportunity.
Substitute Eoin Kenny missed a crucial opportunity, heading wide in the 80th minute from John Mountney’s cross. Shortly after, David Hurley nearly secured the score, hitting the inside of the post. Galway solidified the outcome just three minutes before the end, with Walsh netting from a cross by Karl O’Sullivan.
In other matches, Shamrock Rovers defeated Waterford FC 2-1 in an away game, with Graham Burke hitting the decisive goal fiver minutes before the whistle. This followed the levelling of the score by Christie Pattison in the second half, after Cory O’Sullivan’s initial score. Meanwhile, Drogheda Utd secured a 2-2 draw against Bohemians in a home match, helping them bridge the gap to Dundalk to just two points. Interestingly, both teams tallied own goals in that contest.
The line-up for Dundalk featured Goddard, Mountney, Animasahun, Boyle, Pike (substituted by Keogh in the 88th minute), Horgan, Dervin, Benson (replaced by McGill, 75), O’Kane (replaced by Mahon, 75), Hakiki (replaced by Kenny, 63), and Gullan (substituted for O’Connor, 75).
For Galway United, Clarke, Esua (traded off for Horgan, 80), Buckley, Brouder, Burns, McCormack (switched for O’Keeffe, 84), Borden (changed for Hurley, 67), Keohane (moved out for O’Sullivan, 83), Hickey, McCarthy (subbed for Cunningham, 80), and Walsh were the select eleven. The match official was referee Paul Norton.