Galway United 1-1 Shamrock Rovers

Jesper Jorgensen’s first league goal rescued a point for Galway United five minutes from the end after Darragh Maguire’s header looked to have given Rovers an undeserved three point haul. A thrilling finale that included penalty claims, great saves, and an effort which rebounded wide off the post in the final minute of normal time meant the hosts had to settle for a point.

The drama began ten minutes from time when Galway looked certain to take the lead, only to fall behind two minutes later thanks to Maguire’s powerful header from a Joey Ndo corner. It was a scarcely deserved lead, but credit to Galway they came roaring back and after Derek Glynn had valid penalty claims, Jorgensen knocked in following a long throw-in from Seamus Conneely.

But that was far from the end of the drama, as Galway sensed a winner, and could have had one as Jorgensen again manoeuvred space in the box, but his shot across the goal hit the butt of the upright and rolled clear. This followed a great save by stand-in ‘keeper Robert Duggan from Iarfhlaith Davoren as the vocal home crowd willed a goal that would move the hosts off the bottom. It was not to be, and as welcome as the point is, it will go down as yet another opportunity to notch that vital first home win of the season. They have only three more attempts to try and do so.

Unsurprisingly the hosts were unchanged from their midweek success in Bray as the returning duo of Iarfhlaith Davoren and Alan Murphy had to make do with a spot on the bench alongside Derek Glynn. Pat Flynn kept his place in the Rovers line-up as they had to make do without the services of Aidan Price, Danny O’Connor and Barry Murphy.

Galway bossed the opening ten minutes as they adopted an innovative formation that left them without a left sided midfielder as John Lester, Ciaran Foley, and John Russell scraped for possession in the congested middle third. They were winning all the early duels and feeding strike duo Jesper Jorgensen and Jay O’Shea.

How Jorgensen didn’t give Galway the lead in the 7th minute left many in the ground scratching their head for some time afterwards. Jonathan Keane raced onto a Lester ball over the top and cut inside Darren Stapleton, then slid the ball across the six yard box where the Dane was waiting to tap into the empty net. But the ball never reached its intended destination as Jorgensen swung at fresh air and the ball rolled harmlessly to safety.

O’Shea’s smart turn and shot elicited a good stop from Duggan in the 12 minute.. Rovers were struggling to exploit the vast acres of space out on their right hand side – when Sean O’Connor did get a run in the 19th minute he picked out Joseph Ndo who headed left and wide.

Gradually, through the endeavours of Pat Flynn and Stephen Rice, as well as some exquisite flashes of skill from Ndo, Rovers began to get on top. O’Connor flashed in a shot that Gary Rogers held comfortably, before John Fitzgerald had to be quick-witted to repel the dangerous run of lone striker Padraig Amond. Amond left Alan Keane for dead ten minutes before the break, but Rogers was out quickly to deny Amond time to take aim.

Lester’s wholehearted commitment kept the home fans spirits up as their attacking threat waned, although Lester himself did thunder a long range effort about foot wide of the left hand post before Anthony Buttimer brought the first half to a close.

Russell’s endeavour on the left edge of the box created an opportunity for Jonathan Keane at the near post but his side-footed effort crept wide. O’Shea ;inked with Jorgensen four minutes later but saw his deflected shot gratefully gathered by Duggan.

The need for a goal for the home side deepened as the minutes slipped away, but their creative intentions were too often curbed by the hardy duo of Darragh Maguire and Ger O’Brien. Kenna introduced Alan Murphy and Derek Glynn midway through the half to offer more pace and shooting options, but Duggan’s goal led an unthreatened existence for the most part, until a burst of activity almost broke the deadlock twelve minutes from time.

Russell’s clever reverse pass released Jorgensen on the right side of the area and the striker went for power but Duggan was equal to it, pushing it behind for a corner. From the corner, a bouncing ball fell to Russell who was again denied by the ‘keeper. Then followed the rip-roaring end-game sparked by Maguire’s opener, and when Buttimer blew for full-time, Galway were frustrated and yet slightly relieved, as Rice had a breakaway chance in the final minute of injury time that would have spelt complete disaster for Kenna’s men

Galway United: Gary Rogers; Marc McCulloch, John Fitzgerald, Alan Keane, Seamus Conneely; John Russell (Iarfhaith Davoren, 84), Ciaran Foley, John Lester, Jonathan Keane (Alan Murphy 57), O'Shea; Jesper Jorgensen.
Subs not used: Alvin Rouse, Derek Glynn, Levi Tierney.

Shamrock Rovers: Robert Duggan; Ger O'Brien, Darragh Maguire, Pat Flynn, Darren Stapleton; Sean O'Connor (Mark Langtry, 69) Stephen Rice, Joseph Ndo, Simon Madden; Padraig Amond (Mark Leech, 67), Tadhg Purcell (Eric McGill, 80).
Subs not used: Robbie Creevy, Karl Coleman.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer.

Attendance: 1,252.

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