League Report: Galway United 2 - 1 Waterford

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United claimed their second straight win in the Premier Division when they came from behind to win 2-1 against Waterford at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

The Blues took the lea through Padraig Amond in the first half but second half goals from Vince Borden and David Hurley gave Galway United the three points.

John Caulfield named the same starting team from his side’s 2-0 away win over Dundalk last Friday night with Karl O’Sullivan leading the line for the Tribesmen once again.

For Waterford – coming off the back of their 4-1 win over Drogheda United last week Keith Long made just one change with Maleace Asamoah dropping to the bench and fellow Fleetwood loanee Harvey Macadam coming into the side to make his debut.

This year’s new arrivals to the Premier Division began the game by getting into each other’s final third – Robert McCourt floated the ball over the bar in the opening minutes after the Blues took advantage of a Galway error.

At the other end of the field Karl O’Sullivan kept his strong forward performances going early on with two shots on goal, calling Waterford goalkeeper Sam Sargeant into action when he got a shot off on the end of a Vince Borden through ball.

It was the visitors who took the lead in the 18^th minute when Connor Parsons raced down the right wing towards the endline, Padraig Amond was left unmarked at the far post and the striker tapped the ball into the net for his second goal of the season from Power’s cross.

United should have been level in the 29^th minute when a corner-kick was cleared only as far as Aodh Dervin on the edge of the box, the midfielder had balked at the idea of a long range effort earlier in the game but he took it on this occasion with the ball striking the corner of the woodwork to the relief of Waterford.

Dervin again went close in the 35^th minute when Ed McCarthy sent a long throw into the box, the ball fell in the box and the midfielder got a shot off, but Kacper Radkowski put his body on the line to block the ball on the goal line.

The teams were all square minutes after the re-start when David Hurley passed the ball out wide to Dervin, he failed to score in the first half but this time the midfielder came in and drilled a low ball into the box – Vince Borden attacked the ball and arrived first to nudge the ball into the bottom corner.

Waterford had a chance to go back in front in the 50^th minute when a lapse in concentration by Killian Brouder allowed Parsons to strip the ball in the final third, he found Harvey Macadam, but the debutant failed to trap the ball and couldn’t get a clean effort off.

It was a feisty affair as the game ticked on with a number of heavy challenges which saw Conor McCormack, Colm Horgan, Harvey Macadam and Darragh Leahy all booked but it was certainly United that were on the attack more during the second period.

The Tribesmen got their just reward in the 79^th minute when they won a free-kick on the edge of the box, McCormack flicked the ball short to Hurley who teed the ball up and lashed the ball low and hard through the crowded box and into the goal.

Substitute Ryan Burke had an effort as the Blues were kept to long range efforts – Brendan Clarke had to be on alert to smother the ball having not been called into action much during the second half.

A late set piece from Waterford caused worry in the box in injury time but the crowd showed their appreciation as Brendan Clarke ultimately claimed the ball with referee Alan Patchell blowing the full time whistle seconds later.

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Killian Brouder, Regan Donelon (Al Amin Kazeem, 71) Colm Horgan, Robert Slevin; Vincent Borden (Patrick Hickey, 84), Aodh Dervin (Jeannot Esua, 71), David Hurley, Edward McCarthy (Maurice Nugent, 92), Conor McCormack; Karl O’Sullivan.

Subs not used: Joe Wright, Conor O'Keeffe, Francely Lomboto, Leo Gaxha, Tom Costello.

Booked: Conor McCormack (50), Colm Horgan (67), Karl O’Sullivan (85).

Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Grant Horton, Darragh Leahy (Maleace Asamoah, 79), Robert McCourt (Ryan Burke, 62);, Niall O'Keeffe (Rowan McDonald, 62), Darragh Power, Kacper Radkowski; Barry Baggley, Harvey Macadam (Romeo Akachukwu, 68), Padraig Amond, Connor Parsons.

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Joseph Forde, Dean McMenamy, Ben McCormack, Gbemi Arubi.

Booked: Connor Parsons (23), Harvey Macadam (54), Darragh Leahy (74).

Referee: Alan Patchell.

Attendance: 3,111

extratime.com Player of the Match: Aodh Dervin (Galway United)

Brian Kerr and Glenn Whelan join John O’Shea’s Ireland backroom team https://t.co/sk6NzoBr3lpic.twitter.com/VSsmEukyo6

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