Galway United 1
Dundalk 0
Steely performances, clean sheets, and deserved victories, these really are interesting times for Galway United. Two games into his managerial career, proof already supports the belief that Ian Foster is constructing the Galway team nicely.
The shape to the United side was as commendable as it was convincing. Barry Ryan only had to claw one dangerous Dave Rogers cross to safety in the first half, a feat the custodian managed impressively, as significant protection was offered.
It wasn’t all about robust defending either as full backs Seamus Conneely and Iarfhlaith Daveron demonstrated a willingness to venture down the line when opportunities presented themselves. And the suspicion that in the centre of the Galway defence lie two smashing stoppers gathers momentum.
At the outset of the year Galway craved security at the back, and the efficient way Shane Guthrie and Garry Breen have settled suggests teams will find it difficult to probe with such a granite duo on the beat. Then to add the brushstroke it was Breen who netted the winner eight minutes from time when bundling home after Jay O’Shea’s free kick.
Indeed it was Kelly’s diligent patrolling in front of the Galway rearguard that permitted the locals to dictate the second period. Early on Galway struggled to attain the fluency that had vexed St Patrick’s Athletic, and Foster’s interval oration was heeded.
“I just had a go at them about the intensity wasn’t enough, we didn’t play in the right areas of the pitch, we didn’t play high enough, we didn’t squeeze high enough, basically the things that got us success down at Richmond Park, we didn’t do it. We said it to them at half time and fair play to them, from the first whistle they did it.
“When we press and when we play on the front foot and when we get in people’s faces we’re as good as a lot of teams in this divisions and when we don’t do it, like we did in the first half, then we look sloppy.”
But at the end of Friday night Galway’s initial troubles were a distant memory, such was the way the initiative was seized. Simon Kelly’s 72nd-minute dismissal for a lunge on the effective Derek O’Brien aided the cause, and then Galway went searching for a goal. Declan Edwards was summoned from the bench as Foster opted for two up top, and the burst of pressure was rewarded when Breen landed the decisive blow. Galway remain perched on the summit of the Premier League table.
Galway United: Ryan; Conneely, Breen, Guthrie, Daveron; O’Shea, McBrien (Edwards, 76 ), Kelly, McGrath, O’Brien; Faherty (Murphy, 86 ).
Dundalk: Bennion; Simon Kelly, Burns, Heary, Rogers; Shaun Kelly (Mulvenna, 46, McGinley, 76 ), Daly, Turner, Singh; O’Callaghan; O’Brien (Mansaram, 46 ).
Referee: M Gough (Limerick ).
