Galway United 2
Derry City 1
GALWAY UNITED GAVE their survival hopes a huge boost when they edged out Derry City at Eamonn Deacy Park tonight.
Derry needed the points in their battle for a European spot but Galway’s need was much greater in the end and they carved out a deserved success.
The sides were deadlocked at 1-1 apiece at the end of an entertaining opening half which was played in excellent conditions.
Galway hit the front after 14 minutes when a ball broke kindly in the box for Kevin Deveney and he slotted the ball low into the net.
But the Derry response was good, with Lucas Schubert narrowly off target with an overhead effort two minutes later.
Padraic Cunningham had a chance to double Galway’s lead after a good move involving recently crowned player of the month Ronan Murray, but his effort flew over the bar.
The equaliser came 13 minutes from the break when Rory Patterson supplied an excellent finish from the right into the bottom left corner after a deflection fell kindly for him.
Both sides had chances to hit the front after the restart but Patterson was unable to finish for Derry, while Marc Ludden was wide of the target at the other end for Galway.
Galway’s need was greater and they pushed forward with Gavan Holohan heading over, while Murray was unable to steer the ball home after getting it past goalkeeper Ger Doherty after 62 minutes.
But then the winner arrived 11 minutes from time when Galway forced a couple of corners and the ball fell for defender Stevie Folan and he managed to shoot home, much to the delight of the home crowd of 875.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Niall Maher (Alex Byrne 21), Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Kevin Devaney, Rory Hale, David Cawley, Gavin Holohan (Conor Melody 92), Ronan Murray; Padraic Cunningham (Eoin McCormack 72).
Derry City: Ger Doherty; Lucas Schubert (Jamie McIntyre 84), Eoin Toal, Aaron Barry, Conor McDermott; Harry Monaghan, Nicky Low, Barry McNamee, Ben Doherty (Cathal Farren 84); Rory Patterson, Ronan Curtis.
Referee: Ray Matthews (Kerry).
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