Report: U.C.D 0 - 1 Galway United

Galway United got their first win of the season at Belfield on Friday when they defeated UCD by a goal to nil. Derek Glynn got the game's only goal when he got on the end of a long clearance by Gary Rogers before slotting the ball into the corner of the net. UCD were unlucky not to get an equaliser and in the end Galway had Rogers to thank for keeping them in the game.

UCD lost captain Conor Kenna to injury early on when he moved across and cleared the danger after Glynn had beaten Ian Bermingham on Galway's right. Evan McMillan, who had just completed an exam at five o'clock and not trained fully for a couple of weeks, came in at centre back as a replacement.

Brian King had the home side's first chance of the game when Rogers was called into action to smartly save the midfielders overhead effort. UCD forced a series of corners and could have easily opened the scoring, as the Galway defence and Rogers looked shaky with the ball in the air

UCD's Matt Gregg got down well when it looked like Mark Leech might be in and he saved from Glynn a couple of minutes later. Galway created another opening after UCD should have been awarded a free kick on the half way line. Jay O'Shea, probably Galway's best player on the night, shot narrowly wide from the right hand side of the box.

Pat McWalter, getting a rare chance to impress upfront, should have made more from an error by the Galway defence after twenty five minutes but all he managed to get for his team was a corner kick. He could have also done better when his header from an Ian Bermingham cross ended up well off target.

O'Shea continued to be involved in anything of note by Jeff Kenna's side. He had a right-footed shot that cleared the crossbar ten minutes before the break and then just after that he played in winger Derek O'Brien. O'Brien made room for himself in the box with a stepover and then fired a powerful shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

A scrappy and even first half ended with midfielder John Russell crossing for Leech but the former Shelbourne striker's header was weak and didn't trouble Gregg.

Mahon introduced Timmy Purcell on the right wing immediately after half time for Derek Doyle, and within a couple of minutes he had a good chance to open the scoring. He picked up possession in the box after a Ronan Finn run, but his shot was poor and was easily saved by Rogers.

Galway then quickly turned defence into attack and caught UCD short at the back. Rogers saved a McMillan header from a corner and looked for space in his crowded area so that he could release the ball quickly. He spotted Glynn and launched a kick into the UCD half.

Finn had been left on defensive duty but he totalled misjudged the flight of the ball and allowed the ball through towards Glynn. With a great first touch the pacy striker got the ball under control and ran at speed at the UCD goal. He cut inside covering defender Bermingham before slotting the ball into the corner of the net with his left foot, for his first goal of the season.

Galway had two opportunities to quickly extend their lead - both of them coming to O'Shea. He sent a header wide of the upright and then had a shot well saved.

From that point on the game was nearly exclusively all about UCD looking for an equaliser. Purcell failed to connect properly when in a good position and his effort went harmlessly wide. McMillan had another header on target, this time from a Bermingham cross. Purcell then turned provider for John Reilly but his shot was saved without to much hassle by Rogers.

O'Shea had a great chance to wrap the game up and make the final ten minutes a lot more comfortable for the Tribesman, but after he jinked inside the covering defender, UCD keeper Gregg did well to spread himself and save with his feet.

UCD continued to press and their best two chances of the game fell to midfielder Finn in nearly identical positions. The ball eventually came to him at the back post after Rogers had earlier flapped at a cross - but the Galway custodian pulled off a great save - and repeated the feat a few minutes later when Finns finishing again let him down.

With five minutes left of the clock Galway midfielder Gary Deegan picked up a yellow card, something referee Alan Kelly could have already given him on three prior occasions.

UCD engineered one last opening in the dying seconds when Byrne rushed on to a Purcell cross and headed over the bar. Finn had taken up position behind him and was far better placed to make something of the teasing cross.

UCD: Matt Gregg; Alan Mahon, Alan McNally, Conor Kenna (Evan McMillan 9), Ian Bermingham; John Reilly (Greg Bolger 80), Ronan Finn, Brian King, Derek Doyle (Timmy Purcell 46); Paul Byrne, Pat McWalter.
Subs not used: Billy Brennan, Sean Harding.

Booked: None.

Galway United: Gary Rogers; Reg Nooitmeer, Wes Charles, John Fitzgerald, Marc McCullough; Jay O'Shea, John Russell, Gary Deegan, Derek O'Brien (Ollie Fenn 87); Mark Leech (Stephen O'Flynn 90+3), Derek Glynn.
Subs not used: Alvin Rouse, Paul Sinnot, Jason Molloy.

Booked: Deegan.

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 395