League Report: Galway United 1 - 3 Cork City

Cork City came away from a blustery Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night with a vital 3-1 win over hosts Galway United thanks to goals from Dan Murray, Billy Dennehy and Garry Buckley.

Galway’s Jason Molloy scored a wonder strike in the second period and John Caulfield’s men will feel a tad fortunate to have claimed all three points. United, for all their endeavour and dominance, failed to defend set pieces and this has cost them dearly again this season.

Murray had the ball in the hosts’ goal after only ten minutes from Billy Dennehy’s in-swinging free kick. Connor Gleeson came for the looping cross but soon found himself in no man’s land leaving Murray to lob his header into the Galway net.

After the early goal, chances for each team were at a premium as the wind played havoc with both sides’ play. Another free kick from Dennehy on 27 minutes caused more problems in the United defence while Jake Keegan was left isolated up front. The American never got to grips with Cork’s central defensive pairing of Murray and Darren Dennehey.

David O’Leary was immense in United’s central midfield throughout the game, no easy task when you’re up against Liam Miller and the irrepressible Colin Healy.

The Leesiders defended well, but never really threated again in the half until John Kavanagh raced down the right flank in a counter-attack move. Riding the challenges of Ryan Connolly, Kavanagh then nut-megged the Galway captain near the corner flag and fired his effort across goal but Billy Dennehey could only head over the bar.

The winger would get a chance to make amends and, right on the stroke of half-time, his low and driven free-kick, in an almost identical position as the opening goal, was deflected into the home net by Colm Horgan. It was a cruel blow for the Tribesmen who were always in the game up to that point.

The opening ten minutes of the second-half started in a blistering pace and it was Galway who came out chasing a goal. Two moments of magic from Molloy on 47 minutes brought the home supporters to life as the winger calmly dragged the ball one way, nutmegged Liam Kearney, and let fly from all of 30 yards in a move that involved three touches. It was an unstoppable drive into the top corner.

The goal rejuvenated United who pushed for an equaliser as Cork began to look somewhat uncomfortable. Molloy was again involved on 60 minutes as he twisted and turned Kavanagh inside out and floated a ball onto the head of Keegan, however, the striker could only head into the hands of Mark McNulty. This would turn out to be Galway’s only real chance of the half.

As the clock ticked down City cleverly used their experience well and when a corner wasn’t properly cleared by the Galway defence on 81 minutes, Buckley was on hand to smash it into the top corner from 12 yards. And with that third goal, all of United’s hard work in the second half evaporated in an instant.

Galway United: Connor Cleeson; Colm Horgan, Stephen Walsh, Sam Oji, Marc Ludden, Gary Shanahan, Ryan Connolly, David O’Leary, Jason Molloy; Enda Curran (Padraic Cunningham 81’), Jake Keegan.

Subs Not Used: Conor Winn, Paul Sinnot, Conor Barry, Akex Byrne, Kevin Garcia, Cormac Raftery.

Bookings: Walsh (45), Molloy (74), O’Leary (87).

Cork City: Mark McNulty, John Kavanagh, Darren Dennehy, Dan Murray, Kevin O’Connor; Colin Healy, Liam Miller (Ross Gaynor 83’), Garry Buckley; Billy Dennehy, Mark O’Sullivan (Michael McSweeney 76’), Liam Kearney (58’ Karl Sheppard ).

Subs Not Used: Gavan Holohan, John O’Flynn, Danny Morrissey, Alan Smith.

Bookings: Healy (74)

Referee: David McKeon.

Attendance: 1,301.          

Extratime Man of the Match: David O’Leary (Galway United).