Colga 3
NUI Galway 1
Colga picked up a valuable win in a game contested by two very average looking teams on Sunday at Mervue.
This was NUIG's second defeat in two days after they went down to Hibernians the day before.
Colga had the first real chance after 12 minutes when Gary Forde's clever ball over the top found Jocelita Costa, but he blazed badly over with the goal at his mercy.
A minute later NUIG went in front. John Lavin went on a mazy run down the left wing and his cross was turned into his own net by unfortunate full back Alan Biard.
Amazingly Will Geoghegan almost repeated that feat at the other end shortly after but ‘keeper John Burke was alert to save point blank from his own teammate.
However Colga did draw level when Wayne Finn laid off a free for Gary Forde, who drilled a low hard shot into the bottom corner of Burke's net from outside the box.
NUIG had two great chances to regain the lead before the break. First Richie Byrne struck the crossbar from a free, before Derek O’Flaherty's free kick seemed destined for the top corner, only for Paul Collins to make an outstanding save.
Colga deservedly went into the lead 17 minutes into the second period. A well struck corner from Wayne Finn found Cathal Connolly at the back post and he headed home.
They put the result beyond doubt with 10 minutes remaining. Once again NUIG failed to cope properly with a corner and the ball fell to Gary Forde on the edge of the box and his shot skimmed low through the crowded goalmouth into the NUIG net.
NUIG had a few half chances late on but Dave Cooke’s and Tristan Ryder's efforts were poor when well placed to score.
Colga: Paul Collins, Alan Biard, Ollie Mullins, Cathal Connolly, Robert O’Grady, Enda Connolly, Maurice Finn, Gary O Donnell, Jocelita Costa, Wayne Finn, Gary Forde. Subs used: Marcus Flaherty for Alan Biard, Greghory Ngorora, Liam Madden for Wayne Finn.
NUIG: John Burke, Tristan Ryder, Ronan Cummins, Rob Gaynor, Eoin Murphy, Will Geoghegan, Paul McDaid, Dave Cooke, John Lavin, Derek O’Flaherty, Richie Byrne. Subs used: John Hynes for Paul McDaid, Sean Gunigle for Derek Flaherty, Vinny Corrigan for Will Geoghegan.
