Report: Galway United 3-0 Bray Wanderers

Galway United advanced to the semi-finals of the eircom League Cup with a deserved victory over Bray Wanderers at Terryland Park this evening. Two goals from Derek O’Brien who, despite protestations that he wants to stay in the west, may have been playing his last game for the club ahead of a move to the capital.

Surprisingly given his statement where he affirmed squad players would be given a run-out after Friday night’s game, Jeff Kenna made only one change to the team who lost 1-0 to Drogheda on Friday evening. Alvin Rouse came into the side for his second outing in this competition, having played in the defeat of Longford Town in round one. Galway legend Alan Gough returned to his old home venue as Bray’s goal-keeping injury worries continue.

Eddie Gormley opted for a 4-5-1 formation from the start, with the pacy Paddy Kavanagh occupying the right flank berth and Ger Rowe detailed to lead the line unaided. Galway began slightly the better, pressing the opposition further up the field than they had on Friday night. Bray as always looked menacing on the break, but it was the home side who took the lead following a whirlwind two minute spell.

On 15 minutes John Russell floated a deep ball into the box which Derek O’Brien bravely headed to the roof of the net, but the linesman calmed the celebrations with a flag for offside. O’Brien took a heavy knock in the incident, but picked himself up to create and score the opener from the spot two minutes later. Receiving from Russell again, O’Brien danced past Ronan Ivory who left out his right leg to fell the winger.

Mark Gough obliged with the whistle and O’Brien calmly stroked the ball past his former team-mate. Five minutes later Galway had a foot in the semi-finals as O’Brien doubled his tally with a strike he may claim to have meant but looked to owed a fair share to good fortune. Again the Kerry native left Ivory for dead down the left side of the area and when he got to the byline he swung his left peg at the ball and it flew Robben-esque into the roof of the net from a tight angle. Whether he meant it is open to debate but Galway cared less.

Bray were stunned, and Galway bossed the remainder of the half. Mark Leech and Vinny Faherty both had efforts on target and skipper John Fitzgerald came close to making it three when he got on the end of Jay O’Shea’s smart delivery but Gough reacted well to save at close quarters.

Galway were passing with intent, with Nooitmeer linking well with O’Brien. Whatever crosses Bray were floating into the box Rouse was confidently dealing with. Ivory, obviously frustrated at getting a roasting from the winger, decided to hack down the winger after once more being deceived by his man. A yellow card was the defender’s reward for a tortuous first half.

Emika Onwubiko was sent on at half time and immediately had an effect, forcing Rouse into action with two shots from distance. Kavanagh led a breakaway six minutes later and should have squared to an unmarked Rowe, but instead opted to shoot and Rouse dealt with it comfortably.

Russell was consistently getting forward and finding space on the edge of the area. Twice he forced Gough into good saves before John Lester stung the ‘keepers hands with a rasping free kick from the edge of the box on 68 minutes. Andy Myler was sprung from the bench with fifteen minutes to play as Gary Cronin’s breif stint on the park was halted by injury.

As steep as Bray’s task was, Gareth Whelan made it nigh on impossible with a sending off. Moments after he had crashed a long range shot off the bar which raised his teams’s spirits, Whelan lunged in dangerously on Leech and was sent from the park after receiving treatment.

Jay O’Shea put the exclamation mark on the result with a neatly taken goal in stoppage time. Derek Glynn ran on to a through ball and neatly side-stepped Gough before calmly crossing for the swinger, who took a touch before planting the ball in the top corner. A heartening victory for the Westerners, although it may be tainted with regret caused by the financial situation which sees its most potent attacker on the way out the exit.

Galway United: Alvin Rouse; Reg Nooitmeer, John Fitzgerald, John Lester, Alan Keane; Jay O'Shea, Gary Deegan (Ollie Fenn, 84), John Russell, Derek O'Brien; Mark Leech (Jason Molloy, 86), Vinny Faherty (Derek Glynn, 71).
Subs not used: Gary Rogers, Seamus Conneely.

Booked: Deegan, Russell, O'Shea.

Bray Wanderers: Alan Gough; Ronan Ivory (Gary Cronin 59 (Andy Myler, 71)), Ray Kenny, Kevin Doherty, Derek Foran; Derek Pender, Alan Cawley, Gavin Whelan, Gary McCabe (Emeka Onwubiko, 46); Paddy Kavanagh, Ger Rowe.
Subs: not used: Paul Dunphy, Gareth Coughlan.

Booked: Ivory, Foran.
Sent Off: Whelan.

Referee: Mark Gough.

Attendance: 500 (estimate).

Man of the Match: Derek O’Brien (Galway United).