League Report: Galway United 1 - 0 Waterford

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United claimed their first win in three games with a 1-0 victory over Waterford at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

Pat Hickey scored his first goal for the Tribesmen to give his side the three points on the banks of the Corrib.

John Caulfield made just one change from his side’s draw with Bohemians last week with captain Conor McCormack coming back into the starting team and Conor O’Keeffe dropping to the bench.

Waterford had three changes from their win over St Patrick’s Athletic with Rowan McDonald and Christie Pattisson missing out through injury and Connor Evans and Robbie McCourt starting in their place.

United threatened early on with Darragh Power intervening for the visitors with a clearance deep inside their box when a nice cross from Jeannot Esua just about evaded Stephen Walsh’s head in the 7^th minute.

Walsh was involved again a few minutes later when he put Blues defender Kacper Radkowski under intense pressure before coming away with the ball – the striker floated a cross to Patrick Hickey, but the imposing midfielder’s header was claimed easily by goalkeeper Sam Sargeant.

The home side were in the lead in the 23^rd minute from a long throw routine by Ed McCarthy from the right flank – the Tribesmen crowded the area with Rob Slevin getting his head to the ball, it fell to Pat Hickey who leathered the ball at close range and rattled the net.

Hickey nearly doubled the lead minutes later when he met a Conor McCormack corner-kick at the front post, the ball flashed across the goal whistling by the post as it went behind for a goal kick.

Despite Galway’s domination in the first half, the visitors were very unlucky not to go in level at half-time when Connor Evans broke to the endline late in the first half, he pulled the ball back to Padraig Amond who rattled the woodwork with a rasping shot.

The sides exchanged half chances early in the second half as Connor Parsons flicked the ball wide in the opening minutes with Killian Brouder heading wide minutes later.

Dean McMenamy had a great chance in the 55^th minute when Darragh Leahy found the midfielder with a defence splitting pass, the Waterford player took the ball toward goal, but his shot was saved by Brendan Clarke.

The Blues came out a lot stronger in the second period and Leahy had a chance to cause some real trouble for United in the 64^th minute after a mistake by Esua – he smashed the ball toward goal, but Clarke palmed the ball away.

Leahy played Amond in on goal minutes later, but the home side were let off as the assistant referee flagged for offside as the striker nicked the woodwork.

United were still threatening at the other end and could have doubled their lead in the 74^th minute from another long throw routine when the ball fell to Garry Buckley, the defender failed to get a good quality shot off and dragged the ball wide.

Amond went close again when he met a drilled cross in the 77^th minute and the visitors went close again from the resulting corner. Keith Long’s men recycled the ball eventually out to McMenamy who fired a powerful shot at Galway’s goal, but Clarke smothered the ball in the Galway goal.

Ben McCormack found Darragh Power with a stunning through ball with less than ten minutes to go – Killian Brouder made a crucial intervention to prevent the equaliser with Power bearing down on goal at close range.

The Blues failed to find that elusive equaliser and fell to defeat, both side are in FAI Cup action next weekend with Galway United facing Longford Town and Waterford taking on Cockhill Celtic.

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Killian Brouder, Garry Buckley, Jeannot Esua, Robert Slevin (Bobby Burns 80); Patrick Hickey, Jimmy Keohane, Edward McCarthy (Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe 80), Conor McCormack (David Hurley 46), Maurice Nugent; Stephen Walsh (Francely Lomboto 51 (Karl O’Sullivan (89)).

Subs not used: Kieran McDonagh, Conor O'Keeffe, Colm Horgan, Leo Gaxha.

Booked: Conor McCormack (39), Patrick Hickey (53), Maurice Nugent (69).

Waterford: Sam Sargeant; Grant Horton, Darragh Leahy, Darragh Power, Kacper Radkowski (Samuel Bellis 73); Connor Evans (Gbemi Arubi 59), Ben McCormack, Robert McCourt (Ryan Burke 81), Dean McMenamy, Connor Parsons; Padraig Amond.

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Adam Queally, Joseph Forde, Niall O'Keeffe, Kacper Skwierczyński, Shane Flynn.

Booked: Kacper Radkowski (33), Grant Horton (36), Connor Parsons (45).

Referee: Damien MacGraith.

Attendance: 2,000 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Patrick Hickey (Galway United)