- Paul Corcoran
- Sat, Jun 12 2021
Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park
Galway United snatched a win on the banks of the Corrib on Friday night when they ran out 2-1 winners over Athlone Town at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Shane Barnes opened the scoring in the first half with his third goal of the campaign to put the visitors in front before Ruairí Keating netted for the first time in four games to draw the sides level in the second half.
There’s been plenty of late drama in Galway this season and this night was no different as Keating headed the ball over the line in the 93rd minute to claim the three points for the home side with his sixth of the season.
Both sides were looking for victories having lost their games before the mid-season break.
Adrian Carberry came to Galway and just made two changes with Aidan Friel coming in for the suspended Tumelo Tlou while Scott Delaney took Killian Cantwell’s place in Athlone’s starting eleven.
Galway United had a much changed side from the one that was mauled by Shelbourne two weeks ago with Chris Horgan, Wilson Waweru and Conor O’Keefe back in the line-up.
Alex Murphy also came into the team with the defender making his debut for the senior side having been promoted from the Tribesmen’s Under-19 team— the youngster was solid as a rock throughout in an impressive first game in the League of Ireland.
The visitors were on top for much of the opening exchanges with a couple of decent chances in the opening minutes that Galway dealt with well.
A gut bursting run up the field created near calamity for the visitors in the 8th minute however, when Chris Horgan blazed up the field with the ball, before playing it past Dan McKenna.
The Athlone man played it quickly back to Mícheál Schlingermann who was caught off guard and had to chase the ball back to prevent it rolling slowly over the line.
The visitors took the lead midway through the first half from a corner-kick, their fifth of the game at that point.
Kurtis Byrne struck the corner-kick and Barnes was there to meet the ball at the back post, it took a deflection on its path before nestling in the back of the net.
Athlone should have doubled their lead towards the end of the first half when James Doona beat Maurice Nugent in the box before firing the ball at goal but Conor Kearns just managed to block the ball on the line.
It only went as far as Adam Wixted who had his shot blocked by a defender before the deflection found Barnes who failed to double his tally for the evening shooting wide, and giving Galway a huge let off in the process.
The Tribesmen had been quiet for most of the game, but they finally went close in the 56th minute when Maurice Nugent met a Conor McCormack header at the near post, but the defender’s flicked header grazed the crossbar and went behind.
They had two more chances in quick succession with second half substitute Mikie Rowe drawing a great diving save from Schlingermann on the hour mark with a shot that looked destined for the bottom corner.
Fellow substitute Padraic Cunningham went close with a header a minute later when McCormack delivered a cross right onto the striker’s head but the Athlone goalkeeper again made the save.
The home side had been on top for most of the second half when they finally got their reward when Ruairí Keating was taken down in the box during a period of intense pressure by the Tribesmen.
Schlingermann got his hands to the resulting spot kick but Keating struck it low and hard and it nestled into the bottom corner to draw the sides level.
However the Tribesmen claimed the win in dramatic fashion with McCormack starting the move from the corner flag, finding Keating’s head at the far post.
The ball just about managed to cross the line with Cunningham making sure of it to ensure the home side claimed the three points.
He reacted quickest with the striker just about managing to bundle the ball over the line with a huge roar from the 100 Galway United fans in the stadium, as the entire team ran to embrace their manager in the dugout in celebration.
Galway United: Conor Kearns; Conor O'Keeffe, Maurice Nugent, Alex Murphy, Christopher Horgan (Mikey Place 46), Killian Brouder, Gary Boylan; Conor McCormack (c), Shane Duggan (Mikie Rowe 46); Ruairi Keating, Wilson Waweru (Padraic Cunningham 46).
Subs not used: Caoilfhionn O’Dea, Colin Kelly, David Hurley, Michael Garrihy, Stephen Christopher.
Booked: Conor McCormack (48), Mikey Place (87).
Athlone Town: Mícheál Schlingermann; Daniel McKenna, Dylan Hand, Aidan Friel, Scott Delaney (Tristan Noack Hofmann 78); Adam Wixted (Jack Reynolds 83), Jamie Hollywood, James Doona, Derek Daly; Kurtis Byrne (c) (Brandon McCann 83), Shane Barnes (David Brookes 89).
Subs not used: Kayleum Rice, Oisin Duffy, Killian Cantwell.
Booked: Jamie Hollywood (65) Daniel McKenna (80).
Referee: Oliver Moran
Attendance: 100
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ruairí Keating (Galway United)
