There have been a wide range of emotions experienced by followers of Galway United throughout this turbulent season but finally, 330 days after their last league win in Terryland Park, joy unconfined greeted Mark Gough’s final whistle on Friday night as Jeff Kenna’s side produced a winning league performance when it was needed most.
This was a scintillating performance by any standards, and should have resulted in a far more comfortable victory than the scoreline suggests. But Galway United don’t do things the easy way, and left the vociferous home support’s nerves jangling following Jonathan Keane’s 72nd minute sending off and a subsequent goal three minutes from time from Cork City’s Lawrie Dudfield.
Too often the Terryland faithful have seen a similar set of circumstances lead to an inevitably heartbreaking late goal, but on this occasion the home side held out for the remaining seven tension-filled minutes with a steely resolve that inspires confidence that they can still avoid the drop into the First Division.
Some 1,471 people filed into the Dyke Road venue and those who arrived on time were treated to an exhibition of attacking flair from Jay O’Shea in the opening 10 minutes. O’Shea has revelled in the freedom United’s current formation affords him, and quickly showed the array of talents that won him a spot in the Irish U-21 squad and the affections of some high profile cross-channel clubs.
His dribbling was mesmeric, terrorising Alan Matthew’s back four. He had already gone on a couple of slaloming runs before Jonathan Keane gave him a ball to chase in the seventh minute. After rounding Billy Woods with ease, he cut inside from the right and left another defender for dead before arrowing a left foot shot into Michael Devine’s bottom right hand corner.
A dream start it may have been, but Cork were in no mood to roll over and let Galway stroll to victory. Tim Kiely and Danny Murphy on either flank began to pose problems as the home side instinctively began to drop deeper. Murphy provided the assist in the 19th minute as Kiely ghosted in and flicked past Rogers, whose handling of the attempt left a lot to be desired.
Pegged back, Galway now needed to reassert themselves and quickly did, thanks in no small part to the enormous workrate and clever distribution from midfielder Ciaran Foley. Full back Marc McCulloch also came to the fore as he got forward and whipped in a number of dangerous crosses. John Fitzgerald volleyed over and Devine was out to deny O’Shea a shooting chance before the pressure paid dividends in the 42nd minute.
McCulloch fed John Russell, who turned inside and found Foley on the edge of the area. His first touch was sweet and he dug out a shot which nestled in the bottom corner and gave Kenna reason to be cheerful as the sides retired for the half-time interval.
Russell went close twice on the resumption, being denied a clear one-on-one by Joe Gamble’s desperate challenge in the 50th minute. Jesper Jorgensen’s first sight on goal almost reaped reward as his shot rattled the crossbar, moments before he was involved in the game’s critically decisive move.
Running on to a smashing through ball from Alan Keane, Jorgensen was upended by a combination of Devine, who was concussed in the incident, and Dan Murray. Gough pointed to the spot and after a lengthy delay while Devine was stretchered off, O’Shea kept his nerve and sent Mark McNulty the wrong way.
Armed with a two-goal lead over the Leesiders for the second time this season, a repeat of that loss in Turners Cross now looked unlikely, but the sending off of Jonathan Keane for a rash tackle gave cause for concern. United’s defending became frantic as Matthew’s side pushed forward and Rogers did well to deny Kearney before Dudfield whipped a shot across goal that slipped just wide. Rogers again reacted well to tip Dudfield’s snapshot over the bar before the striker scrambled in from six yards to ensure an unbearable four minutes of injury time before Gough whistled for time.
Now five points adrift of Finn Harps, Galway remain bottom due to credible wins from UCD and Cobh Ramblers. As Jeff Kenna said a few weeks ago, there will be a few more twists and turns before the end of the season, but at least on this showing Galway should be right in contention to escape the drop come the final reckoning.
Galway United: Rogers; Conneely, Keane, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; O’Shea (Glynn, 82 ), Lester, Foley, Russell, Keane; Jorgensen (Murphy, 76 ).
Cork City: Devine (McNulty, 64 ), Horgan, Murray, Sullivan, Woods (O’Connor, 62 ); Danny Murphy, Gamble, Darren Murphy, Kiely (Cambridge, 84 ); Dudfield, Kearney.
Referee: Mark Gough.
