- Paul Corcoran
- Fri, Jun 18 2021
Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park
Galway United claimed a second win in a row when they ran out 1-0 winners over Cabinteely at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.
A first half goal from Wilson Waweru separated the sides, with the striker scoring for the third time this season to claim a win for the Tribesmen.
This victory moves Galway United past Cabinteely in the First Division table and into the playoff spots.
There were two changes to the Galway United side that beat Athlone Town last weekend with Mikey Place and Dave Hurley coming into the team in place of Chris Horgan and Shane Duggan.
Alex Murphy held on to his starting place after making his debut for the club against Athlone, the 16-year-old did enough to convince manager John Caulfield that he deserved to remain in the starting XI.
Pat Devlin made no changes to his side for the trip to Galway, naming the same starting line-up that defeated Cork City at Turner’s Cross last week.
The Tribesmen had the bulk of the possession in the first half, there was little in the way of chances but Wilson Waweru drawing a save in the fourth minute from Harry Halwax when he took the ball in along the baseline and struck at goal.
Cabinteely went close when a long ball was met by the head of Niall Barnes outside the box. Kieran Marty Waters was running on to the ball, and looked like he would turn it in only for goalkeeper Conor Kearns just arriving in time to intercept the forward.
John Caulfield’s men turned their dominance into the lead in the 37th minute when Keating played a ball forward to Waweru who beat the offside trap and found himself bearing down on goal.
It looked like the chance had gone when the striker had to swiftly turn on his heel to shrug off an oncoming defender but the striker got sight of goal once again to smash the ball into the back of the net, out of reach of Halwax who was at full stretch.
Cabo upped the pace in the second half from the off and just minutes into the second period they came very close to drawing level when Vilius Labutis broke away after a Galway United set piece in the opposing half.
The midfielder carried the ball all the way to the Galway box before laying it off to half-time substitute Sean McDonald but the forward’s shot was too weak to worry Kearns in the Galway goal.
Mikey Place was on target in the 64th minute after some great work by David Hurley in the Cabinteely box. The forward took on the ball outside the box but his effort on goal wasn’t enough to challenge Halwax.
Ten minutes later Cunningham had a chance to double the lead when he met a Killian Brouder long throw with his head, only managing to nod it into the chest of Halwax however. Galway held on to win the game by just the single goal.
Galway United: Conor Kearns; Conor O'Keeffe, Alex Murphy (Shane Doherty 87), Killian Brouder, Gary Boylan; Mikey Place (Christopher Horgan 87), Maurice Nugent, Conor McCormack (c), David Hurley (Mikie Rowe 73); Wilson Waweru (Padraic Cunningham 65), Ruairi Keating.
Subs not used: Caoilfhionn O'Dea, Colin Kelly, Michael Garrihy, Shane Duggan, Stephen Christopher.
Cabinteely: Harry Halwax; Alex Aspil (Eoin Massey 46), Daniel Blackbyrne (c), Keith Dalton (Jem Campion 89), Kevin Knight; Niall Barnes (Conor Knight 79), Vilius Labutis, Luke McWilliams, Marty Waters (Jordan Payne 46); Ben Hanrahan (Sean McDonald 46), Zak O'Neill.
Subs not used: Mitchell Byrne, Luke Clucas, Joe Hyland, Darragh Kenny.
Booked: Zak O'Neill (18) Kevin Knight (79).
Referee: Mark Moynihan
Attendance: 100
extratime.com Player of the Match: Ruairí Keating (Galway United)
