League Report: Galway United 2 - 1 Derry City

Hometown hero Stephen Folan showed his ability at both ends of the field and almost single-handedly gave Galway United the lifeline they craved at Deacy Park on Friday Night.

Folan smashed home late on to give Shane Keegan's side all three points after Derry City striker Rory Patterson had cancelled out Kevin Devaney's early opener for the Tribesmen.

It was a must win for the home side and they lined up with three at the back in order to players forward as much as they could. The tactic seemed to work early on as Folan, Horgan and Maher looked solid and composed.

Derry City were under pressure from the opening whistle, with Galway’s Rory Hale shading the midfield exchanges with Derry’s Nicky Low. The early pressure paid off on 13 minutes when Devaney, set free in the box, blasted the ball home.

Almost immediately Derry threatened, but Horgan’s brilliant block of Patterson’s shot kept the home team in front.

Six minutes later Galway were forced to reshuffle the pack when Maher’s hamstring gave way and Alex Byrne replaced him – Byrne would go on to have a superb game.

Both Cunningham and Murray had good chances to increase Galway’s lead before Derry drew level and it was Patterson who drove the ball to the net when the ball fell to him in the box.

Marc Ludden picked up an unfortunate yellow card just before the break when referee Ray Mathews adjudged him to have dived when it looked more like he stumbled.

The second half lived up to the first half standards and even surpassed it as both sides went for the win. Low did was doing particularly well in midfield for Derry while Patterson always looked a threat.

For Galway, Cawley anchored the area in front or the back three very well and Hale was the quintessential ‘Duracell Bunny’ all night.

The home side got their just rewards after 78 minutes and no man deserved it more that Stevie Folan.

Folan had been majestic all night at the back for United and when he strode forward for set pieces he cause mayhem in the Derry penalty area, and was on hand to fire a rebound into to the back of the net.

Derry threw Jamie Macintyre and Cathal Farren in an effort to force an equaliser but to no avail as the home side held out for the win that could be crucial in the battle to avoid relegation

Galway United: Conor Winn; Niall Maher (Alex Byrne 21) Steve Folan, Colm Horgan; Kevin Devaney, David Cawley, Rory Hale, Gavan Holohan (Conor Melody 90), Marc Ludden; Ronan Murray, Padraic Cunningham (Eoin McCormack 71).

Subs not used: Charlie Burns (gk), Paul Sinnott, Conor Barry, Gary Shanahan.

Booked: Marc Ludden (42).

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Harry Monaghan, Eoin Toal, Aaron Barry, Conor McDermott; Barry McNamee, Nicky Low, Ben Doherty (Cathal Farren 84); Ronan Curtis, Lukas Shubert (Jamie McIntyre 84), Rory Patterson.

Subs not used: Eric Grimes (gk), Mikey Place, Josef Dolny, Sam Todd, Aidy Delap.

Booked: Barry McNamee (73).

Referee: Ray Matthews.

Attendance: 875.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Stephen Folan.