Derry City 2
Galway United 1
DERRY CITY substitute Nathan Boyle stole the show at Brandywell as his superb second half brace which included a sublime 91st minute strike secured a third successive league victory.
Galway United had stunned their hosts when taking the lead on 24 minutes through Kevin Devaney but Kenny Shiels turned the match on its head when entering the fray on 58 minutes, netting on 75 minutes and then again in stoppage time as he raced through on goal before finishing superbly.
The Tribesmen had frustrated their hosts in the opening 15 minutes with a well executed high pressure game. Derry’s first real chance came on nine minutes following a Gareth McGlynn free-kick which was punched clear by Galway keeper, Conor Winn. Rory Patterson kept it alive and cut back towards Harry Monaghan whose shot on the turn went over the bar.
Gary Shanahan ventured into the Derry City penalty area on 18 minutes but his drilled effort was dealt with comfortably by Gerard Doherty, Galway took the lead on 24 minutes when Shanahan got in behind Dean Jarvis from a throw-in and the winger crossed into the danger area where former Sligo Rovers man, Devaney swept home from six yards.
Derry responded two minutes later with a well hit strike on the half volley from right back, Niclas Vemmelund but the Dane’s effort went narrowly over the crossbar.
Doherty was almost caught out by a cheeky long range lob from ex-Derry City striker, Enda Curran on the half hour mark as the City keeper frantically attempted to get back to his line and he breathed a sigh of relief when the ball nestled on the roof of the net, Gareth McGlynn’s curling free-kick from the edge of the area had to be tipped over the bar by Conor Winn on 36 minutes as Derry began to build momentum.
And City skipper, Ryan McBride hooked Vemmelund’s cross from the right towards goal but Winn gathered cleanly.
Barry McNamee then pressured Stephen Folan inside the Galway six yard area and managed to poke the ball towards the net but Winn stood tall to deny him, Folan’s close range header was gathered safely by Doherty as the half drew to a close and while Derry finished strongly with a succession of corner kicks, Galway were fully deserving of their slender advantage.
Patterson chased on to a terrific pass from Vemmelund which played the striker in behind the Galway defence but Folan managed to get back and block the shot. From McNamee’s resultant corner kick McBride’s downward header went wide.
Derry showed no real signs of getting back into the match but from Conor McCormack’s free-kick into the box on 75 minutes, Galway failed to clear and McBride’s deflected shot found its way to Boyle who arrowed his strike into the far corner past Winn for the equaliser.
Winn made a terrific save to deny Derry substitute, Josh Daniels whose 20 yard strike seemed destined for the top corner with four minutes to go but the Galway stopper somehow turned it behind.
In the final minute Boyle chased a long ball, muscled off his marker and raced through on goal before applying a neat finish with his left foot to give the home lot maximum points.
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