Friendly Report: Galway United 1 - 0 Liverpool Devl Squad

Galway United hosted a Liverpool XI at Eamonn Deacy Park in what seemed like a day in the middle of November weather wise as Padraic Cunningham’s first half solo effort settled this friendly game in front of a decent attendance of 2,182 on the Dyke Road.

Tommy Dunne used the opportunity to give some of his fringe players a run out while Liverpool played two completely different sides in either half.

Liverpool started on the front foot with the lively front pairing of Toni Gomes and Adam Lewis looking dangerous and a threat to the home side’s back four as Ben Woodburn and Herbie Kane pulled the strings in midfield.

The visitors created the first real chance after just 10 minutes when a great ball from centre back Michael Parker released Toni Gomes in on goals but a great saving tackle from Sam Oji just inside the box after he had cut across saved the day.

Liverpool threatened again on 17 minutes when Adam Lewis set up Kane Lewis but Ger Hanley saved well from the full back’s strike on target with Liverpool looking dangerous

Galway had a half chance after 23 minutes as Paul Sinnott’s free-kick found Conor Barry free just inside the box but his shot was brilliantly blocked down by centre back George Johnston as the home side had yet to test young Cork keeper Caoimhin Kelleher in the Liverpool goal.

Galway struck for the only goal of the game on 36 minutes through an excellent solo effort from Padraic Cunningham. The young striker created some space before his pace took him past the last defender and he neatly tucked the ball into the corner past the advancing Kelleher to the delight of the home following.

The home team should have doubled that lead seven minutes after the restart as Dave O’Leary’s pass found Cunningham’s run and the striker rounded Wheeler but his heavy touch took the ball just past the post.

Cunningham almost doubled his tally once again on 57 minutes as sub Ryan Connolly found him on the right and he once again outpaced both centre backs before firing an effort towards the bottom corner but Wheeler got the slightest of touches to push it away for a corner.

A raft of subs and a completely different Liverpool eleven in the second period saw a scrappy second period until the final seven minutes finally brought some late action.

A good move with seven minutes remaining should have seen the home side score a second after some excellent passing ended with Dave O’Leary firing wide of an open goal after Jake Keegan had laid the ball into his path for the tap in!

Ryan Connolly then released Gary Shanahan through with another defence splitting pass but the winger pulled his shot wide of Wheeler’s far post, while at the other end Jamie Ahearne fired wide of Kevin Horgan’s near post.

Wheeler then denied Colm Horgan as he pushed his shot over the crossbar for a corner as both sides went in search of a late goal, but Cunningham’s first half effort was enough to secure a home win in the end.

Galway United: Ger Hanley (Kevin Horgan 62); Cormac Rafferty (Stephen Walsh 67), Killian Cantwell (Maurice Nugent 74), Sam Oji (Kevin Garcia 74) Marc Ludden (Colm Horgan 46); Antaine O’Laoi (Conor Melody 58), Paul Sinnott (Ryan Connolly 55), David O’Leary, Jason Molloy (Gary Shanahan 46); Padraig Cunningham (Jake Keegan 62) and Conor Barry (Aaron McConnell 74).

Liverpool XI First Half:  Caoimhin Kelleher, Kane Lewis, Kris Owens, Michael Parker, George Johnston; Brad Garton, Herbie Kane, Ben Woodburn, Callum Nicholas; Toni Gomes and Adam Lewis.

Liverpool XI Second Half: Owen Wheeler; Liam Coyle, Conor Masterson, Josh Dobie, Suleman Naeem; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Okera Simmonds, Jack Watts (Louis Longstaff 78), Jamie Ahearne ; Rhian Brewster (Elijah Dixon-Bonner 78), Yan Dianda.

Attendance: 2,182