The mystic number three has long held prominence in fairytales. If Galway United are really to record the great escape, Friday’s third win at home with three fine strikes that claimed three invaluable points might be looked upon with prescience. Either way, it was a most decisive 90 minutes in what at sometimes seemed a futile quest.
Finn Harps rolled into town in a commanding position, secure in the knowledge that a draw would maintain their advantage into the last day of the season. Despite any mathematical connotations, Galway had to win to travel to UCD with any confidence. With this in mind it was Finn Harps who must have been happier with the energetic opening half that didn’t produce a goal.
It threatened on occasion to do just that however. Inside the first six minutes Harps should have grabbed a precious opener. Towering front man Stephen Parkhouse was gifted a ball in the middle of the penalty area. With time and space he tamely passed the ball into the accepting arms of Gary Rogers. A minute later United’s own talisman, Jay O’ Shea, did better with an awkward chance but still failed to trouble the goal.
Chances permeated the half but the tensions surrounding the game seemed to militate against them being converted. O’Shea threatened once more on 14 minutes and when an error by Harps’ Shaun Holmes delivered Vinny Faherty clean through on goal he was beaten to the ball by goalie Gallagher. An even better chance was afforded the Moycullen striker ten minutes later. Alan Murphy swung in a free, John Fitzgerald nodded on vitally only for Faherty to miss with a free header.
Such attacking exploits were not forthcoming in the remainder of the first. The away team settled and contained Galway easily, satisfied to allow them the ball in midfield. A lack of imagination and penetration worried a larger home attendance as they surrendered their wind advantage at the half which played a part in the wintry conditions. Though the Donegal team threatened little, they maintained a presence on the break with pacey players like ex-Galway star Conor Gethins.
Fifteen minutes of fret during the interval were almost immediately erased after the teams re-emerged. United started fast from the kick-off, working down the pitch and earning a throw. It found Johnathan Keane who fizzed a ball across the edge of the box. Marc McCulloch took a great touch past the entire rearguard and with coolness belying the circumstances, he steadied and placed the ball in the bottom of the net.
The gravitas of the situation was emphasised by the away team’s immediate response. In two minutes they went disturbingly close on two occasions only to be saved by Rogers and the outside of the post respectively. It seemed unlikely that one wouldn’t be enough which is why Alan Murphy’s sublime 53rd minute goal was met with an even louder cheer than the first.
Faherty battled well on the right as United sought to catch the Harps defence out of position. He passed nicely to a nearby O’Shea who went at the centre-halves with trademark gusto. Murphy had joined the attack to his left and received the ball just inside the area. Taking a wonderful touch, he curled a superb effort through the eye of a needled around Harps defender John Minnock and ‘keeper Gallagher to elate the boisterous stands.
Once again the visitors responded with attack. Their intentions were signalled with a double substitution on the half. By this stage it should have been three as Faherty, who worked well throughout, tamely headed an O’Shea cross into the path of a helpless goalkeeper from six yards, completing a trio of missed chances.
Yet this seemed somehow removed from Galway’s greater worries as Harps piled forward with abandon, at times raining balls in on a packed Galway goalmouth. Every challenge was met with admirably by Rogers in goal and a compact defence, while they may also have been the beneficiary of a void of clinical finishing in the away eleven. Ball retention was paramount and Galway played this game well at stages as well as continuing the necessary work-rate to combat the threat. John Russell and Iarfhlaith Davoren made timely appearances in midfield and it was Russell’s trickery that earned a free on the edge of the box in injury time.
The graft had been complete at this stage, the points earned, the win secured but somehow John Lester’s low drive from outside 20 yards lifted the lid on the celebrations proper. A deserved goal for a stalwart of the performance, the second-half flurry saw United back at the peak of their form. How timely it may prove to be.
Galway United: Rogers; Conneely, A Keane, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; J Keane (Russell, 86 ), Lester, Murphy (Jorgensen, 72 ), Foley (Daveron, 65 ); O’Shea, Faherty.
Finn Harps: Gallagher; McGowan (Beckett, 81 ), Malcolm, Minnock, Holmes; Funston, Boyle (Brolly, 60 ), McCafferty, Tyrell (Breen, 60 ); Gethins, Parkhouse.
Referee: I Stokes (Dublin ).
