Report: Galway United 1-0 Waterford United

Galway United advanced to the fourth round of the FAI Ford Cup at the expense of Waterford United at Terryland Park this evening. A goal just before the break from Derek O’Brien was enough for the Tribesmen to account for the First Division side in a drab affair that never rose above the ordinary.

The game got off to a low-key start in front of a sparse crowd, with less than ten of the Waterford faithful venturing up to the City of The Tribes for the tie. None of “The Six” whose impending release was announced by the club yesterday were in Jeff Kenna’s starting line-up as Alvin Rouse was the only one of the sextet to occupy a place on the bench.

Fears of losing another centre-half was the only incident of note in a drab opening spell as John Fitzgerald, nursing a sore back, received a clatter for his troubles off Vinny Sullivan. Thankfully for Kenna, his captain shrugged off the knock. Galway forced a number of early corners, but the closest they came from them was a 14th minute header from debutant Jonathan Keane at the back post that arrowed wide.

James O’Shea was first to stir the home faithful with a 15th minute free that forced Ben Spicer to scramble across goal and strongly palm the ball behind for another corner. Galway were playing some neat passing football, but lacked the cutting edge that had surfaced the previous week against St Pat’s.

Waterford were far more direct, and Gareth Cronin’s men had a number of half-chances of their own. Luke Fitzpatrick sidefooted wide from close range after good work from Vinny Sullivan, before Kevin Waters curled a free-kick narrowly over on 36 minutes. Two minutes later, Willie John Kiely forced Gary Rogers into a smart save at close quarters.

Galway held firm, though, and struck for the lead goal two minutes before the interval. O’Shea’s left footed cross from the right floated across the area. Vinny Faherty glanced the ball on, and Derek O’Brien was on hand at the back stick to poke past Spicer from close range. The second goal in two games for a man who has been getting admiring glances from the likes of St Pat’s and Bohemians in recent weeks.

Galway have struggled in the opening minutes of games so far this season, and this time they chose the start of the second half to fall asleep for the obligatory two minutes. Kiely had valid claims for a penalty as Michael Foley’s free drifted into the area. Fitzgerald tried to swap jerseys a little early but Mark Gough refused to blow for a spot-kick. Galway recoiled from the let-off, but managed to allow Sullivan an open goal to make up for the poor decision 30 seconds later. The striker steadied himself on the edge of the area as the defence failed to react to a knock on but, while his shot was firmly struck, it was blocked by the legs of Rogers.

Fitzpatrick then had a header saved by Rogers as Galway struggled to cope with the demands of having to actually play a second 45 minutes of football. It took till the 65th minute for them to lift their tempo, as O’Brien delivered a crisp cross that O’Shea headed over the bar.

O’Shea went closer two minutes later, when a mazy run got him into the box but his sidefooted effort rolled across the face of Spicer’s goal and cannoned back off the post. Kiely had a chance when a long ball left him in the clear, but the recovering Seamus Conneely put enough pressure on him to force him into an early shot that lifted over the bar.

Waterford had one more chance when Rogers flapped at a cross that Karl Bermingham couldn’t force home. John Russell and O'Shea came close to adding to Galway's lead as the visitors commited more men forward in the dying stages, but in truth it was a poor game in truth and Jeff Kenna will just be happy to have gotten over what cold have been a trickier hurdle.

Galway United: Gary Rogers; Reg Nooitmeer, Ollie Fenn, John Fitzgerald, Seamus Conneely; Jay O'Shea, Jonathan Keane, John Russell, Derek O'Brien; Mark Leech, Vinny Faherty.
Subs not used: Alvin Rouse, Paul Sinnott, Cian McBrien, Derek Glynn, Jason Molloy, Willie McDonagh, Fahy.

Waterford United: Ben Spicer; Kieran Fitzgerald, John Hayes, David Breen, Robbie Clarke; Kevin Waters (David Grincell 84), Luke Fitzpatrick (Joe Mulcahy 75), Gary Dunphy, Michael Foley; Willie John Kiely (Karl Bermingham 69), Vinny Sullivan.
Subs not used: Kenny Browne, Stephen Quigley.

Referee: Mark Gough.

Attendance: 800 (estimate).

Man of the Match: John Russell (Galway United).