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Jamie McGrath scores Dundalk's second. Tommy Dickson/INPHO
The Drop

Galway United relegated after Dundalk defeat, Pat's and Sligo survive

Shane Keegan’s side are the third club to go down after tonight’s result at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Galway United 3
Dundalk 4

Daragh Smalls reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

MICHAEL DUFFY SCORED the late winner and Galway United failed to keep their slim chances of survival alive as they slipped to defeat against Dundalk at Eamonn Deacy Park.

Patrick McEleney scored one of the goals of the season in the first-half, after previous efforts from Niclas Vemmelund and Jamie McGrath.

Stephen Folan and Rory Hale also found the back of the net for Galway but despite a leveller from Ronan Murray, Duffy struck late.

Galway will play their football in the second tier for the first time since 2014, while St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo  Rovers both stay up.

The home side trailed 3-1 at half-time but got the start they had dreamed of when Folan found the net after just nine minutes – he finished off a corner from Kevin Devaney.

However, after saving brilliantly, the rebound came back off Conor Winn and into the path of Vemmelund, who made no mistake for Dundalk’s opener.

That goal came in the 11th minute and Winn followed up with a few good saves — most notably denying McEleney with a big dive to his left in the 39th minute.

But just three minutes later, Dundalk got their second goal when McGrath was given too much room in the penalty area to finish low.

McGrath was again involved in the 47th minute when Dundalk broke from defence. He found McEleney and the Dundalk attacker executed an audacious lob.

McEleney chip RTE Player RTE Player

It was 3-1 at the break and Galway were in real trouble but they came out with massive intent in the second half and had one goal back by the 53rd minute. A superb flick from Eoin McCormack put Hale through and he scored on the run.

Galway continued to press looking for the equaliser and Murray struck with two minutes of normal time remaining, but Duffy replied in the dying minutes and Galway go down.

GALWAY UNITED: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Niall Maher, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan (Conor Melody 77), David Cawley, Rory Hale, Kevin Devaney (Ronan Manning 77); Ronan Murray, Eoin McCormack (Padraic Cunningham 77).

DUNDALK: Gary Rogers; Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Niclas Vemmelund, Dane Massey; Jamie McGrath, Stephen O’Donnell, Robbie Benson, Michael Duffy; Patrick McEleney (Dylan Connolly 58), David McMillan (Thomas Stewart 80).

Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin).

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