- Extratime Team
- Sat, Jul 09 2022
With leaders Cork City having a night off, it was an opportunity for Galway United and Waterford to cut the gap at the top of the table and put pressure on Colin Healy’s men in the race for automatic promotion.
John Caulfield’s Galway United, in defender Alex Murphy’s last game for the club before moving to Newcastle United, took all three points with a 3-0 victory over Cobh Ramblers at Eamonn Deacy Park. With the summer transfer window in full swing, Caulfield handed a debut to on loan Bohemians defender James Finnerty, with substitutes Rob Manley and ex Finn Harps defender Mark Russell making it a total of three debutants on the night for Galway when they appeared in the second half while Shane Keegan thrust former Treaty United defender Charlie Fleming into Cobh’s starting lineup for his second coming at the club- one of five changes made by the ex Wexford manager as he sought to pick up his first result in charge of the St Colman’s Park outfit.
However, a double from the free scoring Stephen Walsh- one created by the departing Murphy- sandwiched a debut goal from Rob Manley and saw the Tribesmen cut the gap to Cork City to just a single point ahead of a mouthwatering clash between the two next weekend. Paul Corcoran’s report on the game can be read at the following link - https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/45265/2/
At the RSC, Wexford FC made it seven games without defeat as they beat neighbours Waterford in the south east derby. The Slaneysiders had to do without the services of their talisman Jack Doherty and new signing Eoin Farrell started in midfield with freescoring former Collinstown striker Ger Shortt debuting from the bench. The Blues handed a debut to their new arrival Wassim Aouchria as they sought to make amends for last weekend’s slender defeat to Galway United- their first loss in nine games.
After a goalless first half, Ian Ryan’s visitors took the lead on 50 minutes with defender Thomas Considine finding the net after Brian Murphy had denied Aaron Dobbs following a quick throw in. However, the striker found the net himself shortly after- pouncing on a loose ball to fire into the Waterford net for his third goal in his last three games. Wexford themselves had their third of the game with twenty minutes left. Considine again involved as his cross was nodded home by Conor Barry for the ex Galway United man’s third goal of the season. A fine individual effort from Shane Griffin with ten minutes on the clock saw the gap cut to two goals but Wexford saw the game out to remain firmly in the hunt for play off places, cutting the gap on fourth placed Longford Town to three points and remaining ahead of Treaty United on goal difference.
Treaty United hosted Longford Town at the Markets Field and the home side took all three points courtesy of a 3-0 victory over the Midlanders. A brace of second half penalties, one from the boot of Marc Ludden and the other converted by former Longford frontman Enda Curran- who also scored a second on the night- were enough to take the spoils for the home side. Despite the second half appearance of new Longford Town signing Jordan Adeyemo, Daire Doyle’s outfit couldn’t break down the Treaty defence with ex Town netminder Jack Brady keeping his former outfit at bay for the third time this season- half of his six clean sheets this campaign have been against Longford Town.
In terms of transfer window arrivals at the Limerick side, Tommy Barrett’s side announced the signing of former Athlone forward Success Edogun following the game while Academy product Leon Kirrane made his debut as a second half substitute and new signing from Sligo Rovers, Darren Collins, was named on the bench.
Edogun’s former side, Athlone Town were defeated by Bray Wanderers at Athlone Town Stadium. Adam Lennon returned to the Midlands outfit and started while there was a new face in goal with Vladislav Velkin taking his place between the sticks. New faces Valeri Dolia, Eoin Sheeran and Noah Flynn were amongst the substitutes. For Pat Devlin’s Seagulls, new signings Jamie Hollywood and Colin Kelly were named on the bench as the Wicklow side sought a first win since defeating their hosts at the Carlisle Grounds in May.
After a goalless opening period, Ben Feeney found the net from a Kurtis Byrne cross to give Bray the advantage with less than five minutes played in the second half. However, their lead was short lived as Aaron McBride converted Glen McAuley’s delivery to equalise in the very next Athlone attack. Less than ten minutes later, the pendulum swung back in the visitors’ favour with the experienced former Athlone Town frontman Kurtis Byrne latching onto a Callum Thompson through ball to regain the lead and earn Bray Wanderers a valuable three points in their quest for a play off position. For more reading on the match, Philip Morrisey’s report is available here- https://www.extratime.com/matches/detail/45266/2/.
