Report: Galway United 0-4 Derry City

Derry City cruised to a comfortable win at Terryland Park as a three goal scoring blitz put this game in the “fat lady singing” category well before half time. It was cruel on Galway who threatened before the scoring spree but will be keen to put this performance behind them before the more telling tests in the coming weeks.

Galway were unchanged from their success by the sea in Bray, while Derry lined up in what looked to be a 4-2-3-1 Stephen Kenny creation. In reality it was more like 4-3-3 as Thomas Stewart and Niall McGinn took up advanced positions on the flanks with little emphasis on defensive worries. It paid off for them as early as the fifth minute.

Mark Farren surged past John Lester on the edge of the Galway area and looked to be fouled, but the ref played a good advantage, as Gareth McGlynn ran on to the loose ball and found the back of the net with a shot which looked to take a nasty bobble on the surface and deceived Alvin Rouse. Rouse was in further trouble four minutes later when a looping back-pass caused him difficulty but Farren couldn’t capitalise from a poor touch.

Rocked by the early blow, Galway steadied somewhat as Faherty headed over before Jay O’Shea’s probing run into the box caused consternation but no change to the scoreboard. Faherty was then set up by strike partner Derek Glynn in the 17th minute but his low drive was well blocked by Gerard Doherty.

An even contest, or so it seemed until Derry blew the home sides aspirations of a comeback out of the water with three goals in a blistering eight minute spell. Galway survived a scare in the 20th minute when Farren sidefooted wide Niall McGinn’s cut-back, but they were not so lucky two minutes later when the same two combined again and this time Farren found the net with a close range finish.

The situation improved even further on the half hour for Derry when McGinn was played in behind Jeff Kenna on the left flank and cooly found the far corner with a crisp strike. Within ninety seconds it was four as Stewart added to the blitz with a carbon copy of the third, slotting the ball past Rouse from the left side of the area.

Derry’s midfield trio of Ruaidhri Higgins, McGlynn and Ciaran Martyn were at the heart of the damage as they took it in turns to get forward and left Alan Murphy and Ciaran Foley chasing shadows. It could well have been five three minutes after the break but Stewart couldn’t get enough curl on his effort from ten yards out. Because of Derry’s attacking intentions, O’Shea received ample space on the right for Galway and threatened every time he got on the ball.

Twice he left Mark McChrystal for dead on the touchline but a combination of poor crossing and committed defending denied the home side some reward. To add to the gloom, captain John Fitzgerald was then forced off on the hour mark with what looked like an ankle problem.. Kenna took it upon himself to seek out some consolation for his team and stung Doherty‘s hands with a well-hit shot from distance on 64 minutes.

Kenny’s side were happily content with their bounty, while Galway came close to breaking their duck through John Lester’s long range drive and Glynn’s effort from closer in that brought a good save from Doherty.

For the third time in time in five games Derry have bagged four goals, while the stingiest defence have now kept their fourth consecutive clean sheet. Title-chasing form it may well be if they can maintain their efficiency in front of goal. They will hope for a repeat performance in the League Cup semi on Monday week, before which Galway face an infinitely more pertinent encounter with Finn Harps in Ballybofey.

Galway United: Alvin Rouse; Jeff Kenna (Seamus Conneely, 79), John Fitzgerald (Cian McBrien, 60), John Lester, Marc McCulloch; Jay O'Shea, Ciaran Foley, Alan Murphy, Ollie Fenn; Vinny Faherty (Jason Molloy, 84), Derek Glynn.
Subs not used: Gary Rogers, Ian Foster.

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Kevin Deery, Mark McChrystal, Peter Hutton (Eddie McCallion, 32), Clive Delaney (Barry Molloy, 77); Gareth McGlynn, Ruaidhri Higgins, Ciaran Martyn, Niall McGinn; Thomas Stewart, Mark Farren (Kevin McHugh, 81).
Subs not used: Darren Quigley, Sammy Morrow.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 1,374

Man of the Match: Niall McGinn (Derry City).