League Report: Galway United 2 - 1 Cork City

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United put a stop to Cork City’s early First Division title celebrations, at least for now, with a 2-1 victory over the Rebels at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

The visitors took the lead when Barry Coffey found the net early in the second half, but the home side struck back with a quickfire double as Wilson Waweru and Charlie Lyons found the net for Galway’s first win in five games.

John Caulfield made three changes for the visit of the Rebels with Rob Manley and Wilson Waweru dropping to the bench, while Conor McCormack missed out due to injury, Diego Portilla and Mikie Rowe got the nod with Stephen Walsh returning to the team after serving a suspension last week.

There was just one change to Colin Healy’s side after their win over Waterford last week, Josh Honohan missed out with Jonas Hakkinen coming into the starting eleven.

The Tribesmen – who had nothing to lose on Friday night started the game as the better side although neither team managed to challenge the respective goalkeepers in the opening 15 minutes.

United created their first half chance of the game in the 17^th minute when a Mikie Rowe cross was flicked on by Conor O’Keeffe, Stephen Walsh headed the ball toward goal, but he got too far under the ball and David Harrington was able to easily claim the high ball.

The visitors drew a save from Conor Kearns in the 22^nd minute after some great work by Cian Murphy on the left flank – he played the ball across to Aaron Bolger on the edge of the box and the midfielder struck a low shot, but it was saved by the Galway ‘keeper.

They were back in five minutes later and they were so unlucky not to take the lead when Ally Gilchrist rushed through the box to meet Matt Healy’s corner-kick, his header struck the crossbar and came back out.

Cork’s David Harrington dropped a Ronan Manning corner minutes later and this led to chaos in the Rebels’ box with shot after shot being fired off from a Galway boot but each time a City body got in the way of the ball to deny the home side.

Ronan Manning showed some good skill on the ball at the edge of the Cork box in the 39^th minute before attempting to place the ball past Harrington, the goalkeeper read the effort well and scuttled across his goal to claim the ball.

 It took just five minutes of the second half for the Rebels to get in front after a big mistake by James Finnerty near the halfway line gave possession to Cian Bargary, he raced forward before squaring the ball to Barry Coffey, his shot took a deflection on its way into the back of the net sending the visiting fans into pandemonium.

After several minutes of chaos on the pitch with an invasion from the stands and any number of pyrotechnics, referee Oliver Moran threatened to abandon the game unless the Cork City fans returned to their seats – the game finally resumed after six minutes.

The Rebels had great chances to double their lead shortly after going ahead with Healy hitting the crossbar and Coffey going close again with a shot that dragged just wide of the goal.

United equalised twenty minutes later after a great cross from the right, Stephen Walsh tapped the ball down in the box to substitute Wilson Waweru – the young forward held the ball well with a crowd of defenders in front of him before placing the ball into the bottom corner.

Just minutes later and the home side were in front in spectacular fashion, David Hurley flicked the ball in as he was coming in from the right and Charlie Lyons got low to strike an overhead kick into the bottom corner of the goal to send the home side into raptures.

Waweru had a chance to kill the game in the 90^th minute when he was sent on a run after a great through ball by Walsh, it was the striker taking on Harrington as the goalkeeper came off his line – he took his shot, but it rolled agonisingly wide of the post.

There were over eight minutes of additional time after the lengthy delay in the middle of the game but the Tribesmen held firm to claim the three points.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; James Finnerty, Charlie Lyons, Conor O'Keeffe, Diego Portilla (Bastien Hery, 65), Mikie Rowe; Max Hemmings, David Hurley, Ronan Manning (Wilson Waweru, 65), Edward McCarthy; Stephen Walsh.

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Killian Brouder, Oisin O'Reilly, Adam Thomas, Francely Lomboto, David Tarmey, Rob Manley.

Booked: Charlie Lyons (37), Mikie Rowe (90).

Cork City: David Harrington; Ally Gilchrist, Jonas Hakkinen; Cian Bargary (Dylan McGlade, 89), Aaron Bolger, Barry Coffey, Cian Coleman, Darragh Crowley, Matt Healy; Ruairi Keating, Cian Murphy (Louis Britton, 87).

Subs not used: Jimmy Corcoran, Gordon Walker, Kevin O'Connor, Uniss Kargbo, James Doona, Matt Srbely, Franco Umeh Chibueze.

Booked: None.

Referee: Oliver Moran.

Attendance: 3,500 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Stephen Walsh (Galway United)