Galway United 1-0 Mervue United

Galway United recorded their second pre-season victory over Mervue United and completed an unbeaten pre-season campaign thanks to David Cooke's 78th minute winner.

Cooke finished well when released by Jay O'Shea's neat flick on. His first touch was poor but his second was altogether better as he struck a crisp shot that flew into the bottom left corner. It was a goal the "home" side had scarcely deserved.

With Galway lining out again in a 4-5-1 formation with Vinny Faherty as the point, Mervue quickly adapted to negate the extra man in midfield with new signing Dave O'Dowd dropping back to a right-sided midfield role.

Galway had five new starters from the previous friendly between the two clubs which United won 1-0. Sean Kelly occupied the defensive midfield role with David Cooke and Michael McGrath given licence to get forward. Derek O'Brien was first to pose any sort of attacking threat from the left when he cut inside on 8 minutes but was nowhere near testing Ryan Griffin with a shot which flew across goal.

Eric Browne, Mervue's captain, left his defensive station six minutes later and won possession before shooting from distance. Barry Ryan scampered to his right but the ball drifted a foot wide. A number of ineffective Galway corners followed before Faherty was presented with a half chance but couldn't adjust his body sufficiently to volley in from close range.

Mervue improved as the half wore on and forced a number of corners of their own, from one of which David O'Brien drove a shot narrowly over the bar from the edge of the box, albeit with the aid of a deflection.

A wicked cross three minutes after the resumption from Cooke almost led to the opener but Faherty could only stretch to knock it wide.

Thereafter it was a case of a litany of substitutions and very little goalmouth action apart from the winning goal courtesy of Cooke. Both sides will be content with another 90 minutes action under their belts before next week's opening clashes, but whether the watching spies from St Patrick's Athletic and Athlone Town will have been shaking in their boots following these performances is very much open to debate.

Galway United:Barry Ryan; Paul Sinnott (Niall Walsh, 84), Garry Breen, Shane Guthrie, Iarfhlaith Davoren; Jay O'Shea (Jason Molloy, 84), Sean Kelly (Mark O'Toole, 70), David Cooke (Alan Murphy, 78), Michael McGrath (Cian McBrien, 70); Vinny Faherty (Declan Edwards, 62).
Subs not used: Ger Hanley.

Mervue United:Ryan Griifin; David O'Brien, Eric Browne, Nicky Curran (Noel McDonnell 58), Kenny Farrell; Mike Tierney, Rynal Browne (Paul Scally, 88), Gary Traynor, Rory Gaffney (Pat Hoban, 65); David Goldbey (Alex Lee, 76), David O'Dowd.
Subs not used: Mark Ludden, Conor Winn.

Referee: Padraig Sutton.

Attendance:250.

Man of the Match: David Cooke (Galway United).