League Report: Galway United 1 - 0 Kerry

Galway United recorded their fourth win in a row when they ran out 1-0 winners over Kerry at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

It was a tight encounter Maurice Nugent’s goal sealing the three points for the home side to keep them 13 points clear at the top of the First Division table with manager John Caulfield celebrating a victory on his 100th game in charge of the Tribesmen.

Galway United made just one change from their 4-0 win over Longford Town last weekend with Ronan Manning making his first start since March in place of Francely Lomboto.

Kerry had two changes from their 3-2 loss to Bray Wanderers with Sean O’Connell and Ronan Teahan starting in place of Rob Vasiu and Togor Silong.

Ryan Kelleher was in on goal in the seventh minute when a defensive header by Maurice Nugent fell into the forward’s path, the Kerry player struck a shot from the edge of the box with Brendan Clarke denying the visitors.

The visitors had looked good in the opening ten minutes, but the home side were in front in the eleventh minute when Regan Donelon swung a wicked cross into the box finding Nugent unmarked with the defender able to nod the ball into the bottom corner.

Kerry had a big chance when they put United under pressure on the half hour mark, the ball eventually fell to Ryan Kelleher for a gilt-edged chance, but the forward blazed the ball over the bar from six yards.

Ed McCarty nearly doubled Galway’s lead when Ronan Manning broke down the left wing and floated a cross to the back post, the header fell to the goal line, but Kerry’s Samuel Alasesanusi reacted quickly to clear the ball from the mouth of the goal.

The Tribesmen clipped the upright in the 57^th minute when Conor McCormack found Vincent Borden in the box with a free kick, his header looped over the defence but came back off the post.

The visitors were so close to an equaliser when Sean O’Connell drilled a cross into the box from the right in the 70^th minute – Leo Gaxha escaped his marker and headed on goal with Clarke needing to pull off a diving save to put the ball behind.

Substitute Killian Brouder headed inches over the crossbar in the 89^th minute when the home side won a free late in the game on the left wing. McCormack finding the defender’s head after Oisin O’Reilly was brought down by Kerry’s Nathan Gleeson.

There was a nervy finish as the visitors were awarded a free in the final minute of the game with Gaxha playing the ball to Ronan Teahan. David Hurley got his foot to the ball when the Kerry player took his shot and cleared the ball to the sound of Kevin O’Sullivan’s full time whistle.

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Regan Donelon (Oisin O'Reilly 63), Maurice Nugent, Conor O'Keeffe, Rob Slevin; Vincent Borden, David Hurley, Ronan Manning (Francely Lomboto 46), Edward McCarthy (Killian Brouder 77), Conor McCormack; Stephen Walsh.

Subs not used: Alex Rutter, Evan O'Connor, Steven Healy, Rob Manley, Mikie Rowe, Brian Cunningham.

Booked: Ollie Horgan (57), Rob Slevin (58).

Kerry FC: Callan Scully; Samuel Aladesanusi, Cian Barrett, Nathan Gleeson, Sean O'Connell, Kevin Williams; Leo Gaxha, Matt Keane, Sean McGrath (Kennedy Amechi 81), Ronan Teahan; Ryan Kelliher (Cian Brosnan 75).

Subs not used: Richard Healy, Shane Guthrie, Graham O'Reilly, Togor Silong, Andy Quaid, Alex Ainscough.

Booked: Ronan Teahan (18), Nathan Gleeson (88).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan.

extratime.com Player of the Match: Brendan Clarke (Galway United)

Acun Ilıcalı: ‘My first aim is to make the fans happy’ https://t.co/I76oUAL4iQpic.twitter.com/KpSswStLFa

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 30, 2023