Galway United 2
Finn Harps 1
John Fallon reports from Eamonn Deacy Park
VINNY FAHERTY WAS the Galway hero as he headed home a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Eamonn Deacy Park.
It was rough justice for a Finn Harps side who would not have been flattered with all three points in a cracking relegation clash.
Harps may not have scored in their previous four games but they should have had two in the bag by the half-hour mark.
Killian Cantwell was guilty of missing a gilt-edge chance when he had a free header from five yards but hit the crossbar following a free from Paddy McCourt after 20 minutes.
That should have been enough to have the Galway defence on high alert but they fell behind eight minutes later when they failed to deal with a cross from Gareth Harkin. It fell to Barry Molloy and his shot ended up in the net via the right post and a deflection off ‘keeper Conor Winn.
Galway, bidding to build on being the first team to take points off Cork City in the league this season, rarely threatened in the opening half and had appeals for a handball off Harps’ full-back Damien McNulty turned down after 26 minutes.
Harps went close to extending their lead after the break, with Galway goalkeeper Winn having to be sharp to deny Ciaran O’Connor and then Danny Morrissey, having earlier tipped a stinging effort from Gareth Harkin around his right post.
Galway got level after 74 minutes when Morrissey was penalised for a foul on David Cawley and Ronan Murray stepped forward to slot home the penalty for his fifth goal of the campaign.
The tie seemed destined for a draw but in the first of five minutes of stoppage — and with Harps boss Ollie Horgan banished to the stand — Galway struck for the winner when Faherty got his head to a cross from the left by Mark Ludden, to give Shane Keegan’s men a priceless win.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Lee Grace, Stephen Folan (Paul Sinnott, 90), Marc Ludden; Colm Horgan, Gary Shanahan (Conor Melody, 60), Gavin Holohan, David Cawley, Kevin Devaney; Ronan Murray, Padraic Cunningham (Vinny Faherty, 60).
Finn Harps: Ciaran Gallagher; Damien McNulty, Ethan Boyle, Killian Cantwell, Ciaran Coll; Caolan McAleer (Michael Funston, 86), Sean Houston, Gareth Harkin, Paddy McCourt (Danny Morrissey, 34), Barry Molloy (Jonny Bonner, 63); Ciaran O’Connor.
Referee: Ray Matthews.
