League Report: Galway United 1 - 1 Drogheda United

A headed effort from Drogheda United’s Mick Daly denied an injury-ravaged Galway United from claiming all three points at Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday night in a game which both teams could ill afford to lose.

Jake Keegan had put the home side ahead just before the break with Galway fielding three under 19 players from the off. The youngsters in the team did their club proud on the night and, hopefully, they’ll be knocking on Tommy Dunne’s door even when his first choice players return.

Galway stopper Ger Hanley put in a man of the match performance keeping Drogheda at bay with some fine reflex saves. Dunne had asked for his senior players to lead by example, and to be fair, Sam Oji, David O’Leary, Paul Sinnot and Jake Keegan all answered their bosses call.

Drogheda, for all the experience in their team, started rather cautiously, allowing Galway to dictate most of the first half. Keegan’s lone role up front caused problems for the Drogs’ defence as the American’s pace and trickery gave the inexperienced home side a proper outlet up top. At times, there was nothing romantic about Galway’s tactics which involved lumping the ball high towards Keegan, but route one football led to the opener on 43 minutes.

Hanley’s long clearance was flicked on by United midfielder Conor Melody into Keegan’s path before rebounding off the on-rushing goalkeeper Michael Schlingermann. The ball fell kindly to Keegan and the striker stroked the ball home from 20 yards. The 1-0 scoreline at the break was justifiably no less than Galway deserved.

Drogheda dominated the majority of the second period, particularly the aerial battles in the Galway penalty area and, as the visitors pilled on the pressure with repeated corners and free kicks, it was only a matter of time before the visitors found the net despite Hanley pulling off heroic saves and some last ditch defending from Galway.

Daly latched onto the end of a Sean Thornton free kick on 63 minutes with a looping header to level the game but by this time the home side was just about holding on. So stretched and committed is this squad of players at the moment that Dunne didn’t make a single substitution, thus, the players on the pitch ran themselves into the ground until the final whistle. A draw was a fair result which sees no change for either team in the league standings.

Galway United: Ger Hanley; Cormac Raftery, Sam Oji, Alex Byrne, Paul Sinnott; Gary Shanahan, Aran McConnell, David O'Leary, Antaine O Laoi; Melody, Jake Keegan.

Subs not used: Moise Assogba, Conor Barry, Connor Winn, Ian Collins, Kevin Horgan, Maurice Nugent.

Bookings: O’Leary (36), Sam Oji (53).

Drogheda United: Michael Schlingermann; Mick Daly, Alan Byrne, Robert O'Reilly, Joe Gorman; Tiarnan Mulvenna, Stephen Maher, Mark Hughes, Sean Thornton, Jason Marks; Lee Duffy (McKenna 87).

Subs not used: Adam Whelan, Ger Pender, Sam McGowan, Evin Farrell, Lloyd Buckley, Sean Brennan.

Bookings: Gorman (25), Mulvenna (84), Byrne (90).

Referee: Graham Kelly.

Attendance: 652.

Extratime Man of the Match: Ger Hanley (Galway United).