Galway United 2 - 2 Bray Wanderers

A share of the spoils was a fair reflection of an Airtricity Premier Division fixture that neither side truly deserved to win at Terryland Park as Galway United and Bray Wanderers played out a game that at times wouldn't have looked out of place in the 'A' Championship, such was the poor fare on show.

However, despite throwing away a lead for the third successive home game, this clash ended on a high of sorts as a rousing finish to the contest left the crowd on the edge of their seats when Galway pushed for an unlikely winner, after they had fallen behind to strikes from Shane O'Neill and Robbie Doyle.

On a night when scouts from various interested parties were due to be in attendance to run the rule over a number of members of the Galway side, it would be interesting to see how many are still on the wanted list following a disjointed performance which disintegrated from a bright opening and was only just saved from a catastrophic defeat by a late burst when Flood headed home.

The fifteen point gap between the sides in the League table was fairly apparent in the early stages of this contest. Galway pressed enthusiastically and maintained possession in the final third of the pitch, and went close within two minutes as Anto Flood headed straight at Brian Kane from six yards.

Bray were struggling to escape the confines of their own half despite playing with the aid of a healthy breeze, and although a number of corners were wasted by the home side, the opener wasn't long in coming as Gary Curran registered his second goal of the season, following up on his first only 72 hours previously.

Derek O'Brien did the spadework, darting away down the left flank passed Daire Doyle before floating in a cross that fell to Curran after Karl Sheppard was challenged in the air, and the midfielder guided a volley to the net with consummate ease.

Sheppard then dragged a tame effort straight at Kane as Galway threatened to run riot; the same player glanced a Stephen O'Donnell free kick wide on 24 minutes.

The tide, though, then began to turn significantly in Bray's favour as Eddie Gormley's youngsters began to spread their wings. John Mulroy went close before Jake Kelly threatened to fracture the crossbar with a thunderous free kick that rebounded to safety in the 28th minute.

Kelly was just wide again moments before the interval, but O'Neill showed him how it was done just 45 seconds into the second period, dashing clear of the cover with suspicions of offside lingering and steered a shot into the bottom corner.

Startled but not surprised by this development, Galway responded with a number of dangerous attacks that went close to restoring their lead, Flood making a mess of the most blatant chance with a poor first touch that will not have impressed the watching St. Mirren manager, Danny Lennon.

For large chunks of the second half, there was not much too impress anyone in the sizeable Monday night crowd, as long aimless balls, poor control, and very scrappy passages dominated proceedings.

Stephen O'Donnell, another potentially on the way to pastures new, finally brought some purpose to the contest on 76 minutes when his burst from midfield ended with a shot that veered right of Brian Kane's post.

Two minutes later, though, Galway were behind when substitute Robbie Doyle curled a free kick around a badly-placed wall and Barry Ryan was deceived by a bounce just in front of him, only helping the ball into the net with his attempted save.

The tempo suddenly rose dramatically as Galway sensed the tension rising in the stands; Gary Curran brought a great save from Kane within minutes with a good header. Ciaran Foley then tested the mettle of the crossbar with a drive from inside the area.

In the next attack, parity was restored when Curran sent in a perfect cross for Flood to head home via the crossbar. The crowd sensed a winner, but it was Bray who went closest, almost snatching their second 3-2 away win of the season when Mulroy raced away, was denied by Ryan's fingertips, only for Robbie Doyle to arc a shot that was always drifting wide with Ryan stranded.

Another substitute, Tom King, also threatened a winner for Galway but it was not to be and Sean Connor's side remain two points behind their Connacht rivals Sligo Rovers before the next installment of that derby occurs on Friday night in the north-west.

Galway United: Barry Ryan; Seamus Conneely, Jamie McKenzie, Rhys Meynell, James Creaney; Gary Curran (Tom King, 84), Stephen O'Donnell, Ciaran Foley, Derek O'Brien (Bobby Ryan, 64); Karl Sheppard, Anto Flood.
Subs not Used: Thomas Heary, Steven Walsh, Paul Sinnott.

Bray Wanderers: Brian Kane; Daire Doyle, Colm Tresson (Nicky Byrne, 20), Derek Prendergast, Dane Massey; John Mulroy, Stephen Brennan (Adam O'Connor, 72), Dean Zambra, James Kavanagh, Jake Kelly; Shane O'Neill (Robbie Doyle, 68).
Subs not Used: Dylan Vickers, Conor Thomas.

Attendance: 1215.

extratime.ie Man of the Match: Jake Kelly.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.