League Report: Galway United 2 - 2 Wexford

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United lost ground in the race for promotion with a 2-2 draw with Wexford at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

Cork City are now three points clear at the top of the First Division table with a game at hand.

The home side took the lead in the first half with Rob Manley putting the ball into the net, Wexford responded with two goals of their own in the first half giving Galway a mountain to climb.

United’s top marksman Stephen Walsh scored a big goal in the second half to secure an important point.

John Caulfield made just two changes to the side that beat Bluebell United last weekend in the FAI Cup with Ed McCarthy coming back in after his suspension in place of Oisin O’Reilly and Conor Kearns taking his place between the goalposts in place of Matt Connor.

Wexford had three changes from their impressive victory over Sligo Rovers in the Cup with goal scorers Ger Shortt and Dinny Corcoran, who had come off the bench at the Showgrounds, starting and Aidan Friel returning to the line-up while Aaron Dobbs, Thomas Considine and Harry Groome dropped to the bench.

The opening 15 minutes were nearly devoid of chances aside from an athletic volley by Stephen Walsh in the fifth minute that went inches over the bar.

It was on that 15^th minute that the home side managed to take the lead although the free-kick routine leading to the goal initially broke down. Stephen Walsh managed to recover the ball and it was Héry that delivered the final ball, it bobbled around the goal mouth until Rob Manley finally bundled the ball into the net.

That lead would only last for four minutes with the visitors breaking away in the 19^th minute, Conor Crowley raced forward with the ball before flicking the ball across to Conor Barry just as the defensive pressure came upon him. Barry took aim from the edge of the box and placed a great shot into the bottom right corner against his former club.

Wexford were in front in the 23^rd minute when Crowley floated a ball in from a corner, the ball bobbled around Galway’s goal mouth with the Tribesmen failing to clear before the ball came off, what looked like Conor Barry, in that crowded area and rolled into the bottom corner.

Galway responded with a couple of efforts, Manley drew a save from Alex Moody in the 29^th minute, and a mistake in the 33^rd minute had the goalkeeper under severe pressure with Héry having a crack from distance, but he also managed to save.

Manley had the ball on the endline in the 38^th minute and Stephen Walsh arrived in front of goal to fire the ball home, Moody reacted quickly and made a big diving save to deny the home side.

United were nearly back on level terms in the 50^th minute after some great work by Héry on the right to win the ball, the midfielder turned on his heel and drilled a cross to the back post, Walsh drove the ball at goal with his head, but Moody again made a great save.

Héry delivered another pinpoint cross ten minutes later but Walsh had his head in his hands as his header was kept out by the crossbar.

Walsh got his reward just two minutes later when a ball was played back to Moody, the striker chased the goalkeeper down and managed to block down the attempted clearance, he turned inside Wexford player and smashed the ball into the empty net.

The visitors were nearly back on top when Ger Shortt broke away towards the Galway goal, his effort was saved by Conor Kearns, but the ball came back out to half-time substitute Harry Groom, his effort looked like it would burst the net, but it very nearly took the paint off the post.

Galway’s new signing Bastien Héry looked like a man possessed at times as he drove the home side on at every opportunity, he nearly set Manley up for a second goal in the 75^th minute but he couldn’t keep his header on target.

The Tribesmen pushed for a winner late into the game, but the draw is a disappointing result for John Caulfield’s men after Cork City’s big win against Athlone Town.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; Max Hemmings, Diego Portilla, James Finnerty, Charlie Lyons, Ed McCarthy (Oisin O’Reilly 88); Conor McCormack (Adam Thomas, 36 (Francely Lomboto, 88)), Bastien Héry (Mikie Rowe, 79), David Hurley; Rob Manley (David Tarmey, 88), Stephen Walsh.

Subs not used: Matt Connor, Manu Dimas, Wilson Waweru, Evan O’Connor.

Booked: Adam Thomas (45), Charlie Lyons (67).

Wexford: Alex Moody; Aidan Friel (Harry Groome, HT), Joe Manley, Paul Cleary, Adam Wells (Len O’Sullivan, 71); Ger Shortt (Jordan Tallon, 77), Conor Crowley, Eoin Farrell, Luka Lovic, Conor Barry (Aaron Dobbs, 77); Dinny Corcoran.

Subs not used: Shay O’Leary, Thomas Considine, Luke Scanlon, Evan Farrell, Sean Fitzpatrick.

Booked: Harry Groome (65), Conor Barry (70).

Referee: Mark Moynihan

Attendance: 1,500 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Bastien Héry (Galway United)