League Report: Galway FC 1 - 0 Wexford Youths

On an evening of mixed weather at Eamonn Deacy Park, Galway FC welcomed Wexford Youths for a First Division clash coming on the cusp of a domestic break. In the end, the hosts ran out 1-0 winners.

In the company of none other than the President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins watching from the stands, the home side took all three points to help keep themselves in check with league leaders Shelbourne who, incidentally, fell to a 2-2 draw with Cobh Ramblers. 

Early on, it was Galway who dominated the offensive stakes. In the fourth minute, Gary Shanahan, who had a terrific match down the flanks, worked tenaciously to free space for a cross that found Jake Keegan, but his header went narrowly over the bar.  

Then, in the 25th minute, Tommy Dunne's men took the lead when Stephen Walsh hit the back of the net.

In a nice move, involving Jake Keegan and Jason Molloy, the ball was worked to Ryan Connolly who fed Walsh expertly and he made no mistake from inside the box to give the home supporters something to cheer about. 

From there, it was up to Shane Keegan's men to work their way back into contention, but they couldn't quite find the killer ball and were left creating only half-chances. 

Perhaps their best chance of the opening period came from a Craig Shortt free-kick floated on to the head of Shane Dunne, but his glancing header was directed harmlessly straight  at Conor Gleeson. 

Lacking somewhat in offensive options, Youths couldn't seem to find a way back into the tie. Anything they threw at the home side's back-line seemed to get repelled time and time again. 

Although there were a few occasions when Galway began to look a bit too relaxed on the ball at the back, as the match dragged on it was clear that Youths didn't have the clinical touch on the day. 

In the opening stages of the first half Ben Ryan was threaded through by Danny Furlong, but the on-rushing Gleeson did ever so well to come out and smother the danger. Ryan will have been upset with himself for having not stuck it away but it really was a snapshot of super 'keeping. 

Then, Ben Ryan found himself in space inside the box and he attempted a lob over Gleeson, but Colm Horgan tracked back to clear the ball off the line.

In the 67th minute Galway assembled a terrific free-flowing move that originated down the left flank through Keegan, who played Colm Horgan down the line. His cross, while well-directed to Shanahan, was scuffed wide in the end. 

The game sparked properly to life, though, in the 73rd minute when in-form Galway shot-stopper Gleeson was adjudged to have brought down a player inside the 18-yard box. The referee pointed to the spot but the linesman interjected and a drop-ball was given instead, much to the relief of the home fans. 

Later still, with the match into added time, Danny Furlong found himself in space in the box after a nice lobbed ball over the cover, but again their forwards were wasteful as he smashed it wide. 

Looking at the game as a whole one feels that if the spot-kick had been given we would have had a more tense ending to the match, but Galway were far more dominant in the closing stages and ran out deserving winners in the end.  

A really disappointing result for the visiting side, especially considering how results panned out elsewhere, while Galway will be ecstatic and should have all eyes now on their next game against Longford Town in two weeks time.

Galway FC: Conor Gleeson; Colm Horgan, Alex Byrne, Martin Conneely, Marty Owens (Marc Ludden 87); Gary Shanahan, Ryan Connolly, Stephen Walsh, Jason Molloy (Ryan Manning 68), Paul Sinnott; Jake Keegan (Derek O'Brien 86).

Subs not used: Ger Hanley (gk), Vinny Faherty, Cian Fadden, Robbie Egan.

Bookings: Stephen Walsh (78)

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle; Craig Shortt (Darragh Walsh 86), Jimmy Dermody, Killian Cantwell, Stephen Last; Craig Wall (Ryan Delaney 90), Peter Higgins, Shane Dunne, Ben Ryan (Dean Broaders 78), Eric Molloy; Danny Furlong.
Subs not used: Danny Neikes, CJ Browne, Daryl Power.

Bookings: Stephen Last (48) Craig Wall (54)

Referee: Ray Matthews

Attendance: 683

Extratime Man of Match: Conor Gleeson (Galway FC)