League Report: Galway United 0 - 4 Derry City

Costly mistakes were the undoing of Galway as Derry City were clinical in an excellent second half performance which saw them run out 4-0 winners.

Derry threatened early on in the game with a long throw-in by Rob Cornwall cleared to Patrick McEleney four minutes into the match. In what would be the start of an unfortunate night for the attacker, he hit his shot into the ground and Ger Hanley gathered easily.

Galway’s main outlet in the game came through crosses with Gary Shanahan close to connecting with a Jason Molloy cross a short time after. McEleney then attacked again for Derry, beating two players before Killian Cantwell was able to clear.

McEleney’s involvement was cut short soon after with him going off at the 20 minute mark to be replaced by debutant Ciarán O’Connor, who joined the club on loan from Dundalk.

However, any worried fans were quickly realizing that the team was not weakened by the change with O’Connor starting their next attack as he drove towards the box after picking up the ball in midfield. He gave it out wide to Mark Timlin, whose cross just went in front of Philip Lowry at the front post but found Stephen Dooley at the back however, his fierce drive was blocked down by Colm Horgan.

The best chance of the half came on the twenty-six minute mark as a Derry freekick was cleared just to the edge of the area. The ball was looped back in where Ryan McBride’s foot connected with it on the volley but Hanley pulled off a great save to push the ball out for a corner.

After some good defending from Galway kept O’Connor and Timlin at bay, Derry had another good chance come from a freekick near the end of the first half. Timlin delivered the ball to the back post where Barry headed it back inside. Rob Cornwall jumped highest but saw his header go over the bar.

Timlin threatened first in the second half with his mazy run getting him closing in on goal but Sam Oji was there to block the striker getting a shot in. However, Derry were not to be kept out for long.

On 51 minutes, Dave O’Leary misplaced a short freekick and Mark Timlin got on the ball. He slid a defence-splitting pass into Ciarán O’Connor who placed his shot into the top of the net past Hanley.

There were chances apiece then as first Lowry was denied by Oji before O’Leary had a chance to make amends but he mishit his strike from outside the box.

Derry then went and doubled their lead as possession was once again surrendered allowing Dean Jarvis to get on the ball in the box. Cormac Raftery fouled him and Mark Timlin made no mistake from the spot to give Derry some room to breathe.

The room then grew three minutes later as, on 63 minutes, Ciaran O’Connor got the ball in the penalty area but, seeing bodies in front of him, cleverly rolled the ball into Timlin’s path and the in-form forward slid the ball under Hanley to give Derry a three-nil lead.

Derry pushed for another as McNamee hit the side netting when he should have done better while Dave O’Leary missed a chance for Galway to get a consolation by shooting over the bar. Jake Keegan went even closer for the Tribesmen, hitting the post after a great ball from Stephen Walsh saw him chip Ger Doherty.

The fourth came near the ninety minute mark as another mistake was punished, this time Cantwell lost the ball to Stephen Dooley, who strode into the box before curling the ball past Hanley in the Galway goal.

Derry finished the game looking on the bright side of life where as Galway United will now be looking over their shoulder.

Galway United: Ger Hanley; Cormac Raftery, Killian Cantwell, Sam Oji, Colm Horgan; Gary Shanahan, David O’Leary (Paul Sinnott 82), Alex Byrne (Aran McConnell 90+2), Jason Molloy; Jake Keegan, Stephen Walsh.

Subs not used: Kevin Horgan, Conor Melody, Conor Barry, Enda Curran.

Booked: Horgan (25), Walsh (28).

Derry City:  Ger Doherty; Rob Cornwall, Ryan McBride, Aaron Barry; Stephen Dooley, Philip Lowry, Conor McCormack, Barry McNamee, Dean Jarvis (Mark Quigley 84); Patrick McEleney (Ciaran O’Connor 20 (Ryan Curran 72)), Mark Timlin.

Subs not used: Shaun Patton, Aaron McEneff, Seamus Sharkey, Ronan Curtis.

Booked: Jarvis (75).

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 1,010.

Extratime Man of the Match: Ciaran O’Connor (Derry City).