Oranmore 2
NUI Galway 0
A headed goal from Dermot Noone and an injury time strike from Brian Mannion secured a deserved three points for the home side in this Western Hygiene Supplies Premier League tie in Oranmore on Sunday.
The opener arrived on 13 minutes from Oranmore captain Noone, who climbed highest and fired home a Dave Eignor corner, after cleverly creating space in the penalty area.
Indeed the students went desperately close to scoring first through Derek Flaherty, but his 30 yard free kick crashed off the post. The ball rebounded to Paul McDaid on the penalty spot but he inexplicably missed the target when wide open.
Dave Sheehan almost doubled the hosts’ advantage five minutes before half time, but his spectacular volley from the edge of the area missed the angle of post and crossbar.
NUI almost equalised after 38 minutes through Galway United old-boy David Cooke but, after nice set-up play from Flaherty, he pulled his shot past the base of Andy Lavery’s post.
On the stroke of half time Noone almost grabbed his second in a carbon-copy of the opener, but this time his volleyed effort crashed off the post and away to safety, sending the hosts in one ahead at the break.
The lead was almost two, four minutes after the restart, but Brian Mannion headed over after an excellent Lonan O’Farrell cross from the left. It was then O’Farrell’s turn to come close, but after collecting a poor goal kick his lobbed attempt fell short with the goalkeeper in no-mans-land.
Oranmore came close again, first through O’Farrell on 54 and from Colin Browne after 55 minutes. Browne, especially should have hit the target after being presented with a free header from a cross by O’Farrell.
The home side sealed the win on the full-time whistle with Mannion’s strike, and it was the least their performance deserved. He expertly controlled a cross from Shane O’Neill with his first touch, rounded the defender with his second and blasted home across the ‘keeper with his third.
NUI Galway management will be disappointed with their troops as they failed to get to grips with the competitive Oranmore side, but Oranmore, in what was only their second home outing of the season, can be satisfied with their day’s exertions.
Oranmore: A Lavery; J Latchford, O Neary, D Noone, B Crowe; D Devlin, D Sheehan, D Eignor, L O’Farrell (W Carr, 75 ); B Mannion, C Browne (S O’Neill, 65 ).
NUI Galway: J Hynes; T Ryder, E Murphy, R Gaynor, R Cummins, W Geoghegan (D McCann, 49 ), D Cooke, P McDaid, J Lavin; R Byrne (E McCormack, 60 ), D Flaherty.
