FAI CUP Report: Galway United 1 - 0 North End United

Galway United will be relieved to be in the hat for the third round of the FAI Cup after an unconvincing 1-0 win over a brave non-league North End United side at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

Tommy Dunne’s side advanced courtesy of a fourth minute goal from Jake Keegan who benefitted from some strange goalkeeping from visiting goalkeeper Lee Walker in what was a game that was a very poor advert for cup football.

Keegan proved to be his side’s hero once again as he provided the only goal in a cup win for the second time this season, having seen his extra time header see off Bohs in the EA Sports cup quarter final just two weeks ago.

Credit though to the John Godkin’s non-league side as they would have been disappointed not to have at least forced a replay as they certainly were value for it and were the better team in the second period, creating enough chances to grab that leveller.

The visitors didn’t do themselves any favours as they handed the Premier Division sixth placed side a soft opening goal. Ryan Connolly played a ball to Jake Keegan, who didn’t look to be any threat to the visiting goal on the left of the box, but North End keeper Lee Walker decided to go walk about and Keegan waltz past him as if he wasn’t there and slid the ball across the line from a very tight angle.

After that perfect start you would have expected the home side to push on and put the game to bed, not so, as apart from Jason Molloy’s strike hitting a post on 31 minutes, after a great ball from Ryan Connolly, the non-league side were always in this game right up until the final kick. 

The second half didn’t improve much on quality but the best moments were produced by the visiting side as Shane Demspey saw his well struck low strike pushed away by Connor Gleeson at his right hand post.

Stephen Walsh, not for the first time on the night, prevented an equaliser when he headed Jason Murphy’s strike on target off the line past the hour mark, while Murphy followed that with another effort just over minutes later as North End began to force matters.

Former Shelbourne and Waterford player Gary Dempsey then set up sub Jason Swords but his strike lacked power and was comfortably held by Connor Gleeson, while Stephen Walsh blocked a Paul Murphy effort away for a corner.

A rare moment of pressure at the other end saw Marc Ludden's effort cleared over his own crossbar by North End centre half Robin Dempsey, with Sam Oji heading the resultant corner just past the post with four minutes remaining.

The non-leaguers continued to press for that goal into added time and came close to grabbing a late leveller. A minute into injury time and a break saw Paul Murphy and Kyle Dempsey two on one but the striker couldn’t get his pass inside to his teammate as once again Stephen Walsh rescued his side with a good block away for a corner.

In the final minute of added time veteran Gary Dempsey showed he still has that ability to perform on the national stage as he played in Paul Murphy but once again his strike was too tame as Connor Gleeson saved easily.

Tommy Dunne’s side “are in round three and that’s all that matters” as the manager confirmed afterwards but the performance was not good as maybe the hectic Premier Division schedule is taking time for his players to get used to.

They certainly didn’t get anything easy from a North End Utd side that gave it everything but just came up short on the night but they can be happy with their performance. Next up for Galway is another big home game with title contenders Cork City next Friday night, North End can now enjoy their summer break after winning their local Wexford Premier Division.

Galway Utd: Connor Gleeson; Colm Horgan, Sam Oji, Stephen Walsh, Marc Ludden; Jason Molloy (A Byrne 89), Ryan Connolly, Paul Sinnott (Dave O’Leary 75), Gary Shanahan; Enda Curran (Padraic Cunningham 66), Jake Keegan.   
Subs not Used: Conor Winn (gk), Conor Barry, Cormac Raftery, Kevin Garcia.

Booked: None.

North End Utd: Lee Walker; Lee Aust (Lee Smith 87) Robin Dempsey, Declan Downes, Warren Broaders; Kyle Dempsey, John Fenlon (Jason Swords 70), Gary Dempsey, Shane Dempsey; Jason Murphy (Lee Wadding 76), Paul Murphy.
Subs not Used: Dylan Owens, Ashley Haughton.

Booked: None.

Referee: Rob Hennessey (Limerick)

Attendance: 642

Man of the Match: Stephen Walsh (Galway Utd) - Several vital interventions on the night to keep the visitors scoreless.