GALWAY UNITED 2-0 DUNDALK FC

Maurice Nugent’s 72nd-minute header sealed all three points for Galway United who extended their unbeaten run to nine games with two set-piece goals in a 2-0 win over Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

Dundalk, with new manager Jon Daly in the dugout, had begun brightly, but Galway gradually took control of the game and Aodh Dervin struck the crossbar before a Ross Munro own-goal handed them the lead midway through the first half.

That was a deserved advantage at the interval but Dundalk showed a much-improved performance in the second half and were the ones looking to attack. However, it was Galway who scored and made certain of victory when Nugent rose to meet Conor McCormack’s corner.

Newly-appointed boss Daly only met the players before the game and took charge. Dundalk showed just a single change to their starting XI from the win over Shamrock Rovers as Sam Durrant came in for Cami Elliott, in an unchanged 20-man matchday squad.

Dundalk started well, with Durrant an early threat down the left. In the seventh minute, a long throw-in from Zak Bradshaw was cleared only back to the on-loan Lincoln City man whose cross was onto the head of captain John Mountney in the box but he directed the ball over the bar.

On 12 minutes, Galway threatened for the first time from a McCormack corner which fell to David Hurley but Bradshaw’s block took it away from goal, before Stephen Walsh fed another cross into the box but Dundalk survived a dangerous moment. Al-Amin Kazeem then drove wide.

Soon after, as Galway grew in confidence, they were in behind Dundalk as Ed McCarthy cut to the by-line and pulled the ball back for Hurley but his strike was well blocked before McCarthy came back from an offside position as the linesman’s flag went up.

On 21 minutes, Galway were inches from taking the lead. A long ball forward from goalkeeper Brendan Clarke was knocked down into the path of Dervin who, in plenty of space on the right edge of the area, hit a strike that dipped but just not enough as it bounced off the top of the bar.

But Galway were soon in front when a Hurley corner from the right landed in the six-yard box and ended up in the back of the net as Killian Brouder challenged Munro, who felt he had been impeded.

Galway threatened again on 29 minutes with Walsh once more causing problems, with Dundalk lucky not to concede a second. The Lilywhites then lost Mountney to injury, the Mayo man replaced by Hayden Muller. Daly’s men were struggling to get into the home half, as the hosts took a narrow but deserved lead into the break.

At half-time, Daly brought in Cami Elliott for Mayowa Animasahun as the new boss searched for a way back into the game. They looked to do so in the 54th minute with some pressure involving Elliott, Muller and Jamie Gullan but Jeannot Esua defended well.

Treatment to a number of Galway players slowed Dundalk down with them having found a foothold. On 64 minutes, Daryl Horgan’s cross was aimed for Elliott at the back post but the Scot could not connect. Gullan then struck off target as the visitors tried desperately to get back on level terms.

On 71 minutes, Paul Doyle was robbed of possession and Galway substitute Karl O’Sullivan raced towards goal but he dragged his shot wide. Moments later, the Tribesmen did add an insurance second when McCormack’s corner was headed to the net by Nugent. Munro then denied Nugent another.

Dundalk looked down and out after that goal, although they did go to the final whistle. They were unable to find a consolation, though, with the only positive coming up in Derry where eighth-placed Sligo Rovers were denied a priceless win by ex-Lilywhite Will Patching’s late penalty.

GALWAY UNITED: Brendan Clarke, Jeannot Esua, Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Al-Amin Kazeem, Conor McCormack, Maurice Nugent (Garry Buckley 81), Aodh Dervin (Karl O’Sullivan 62), David Hurley (Wassim Aouachria 62), Ed McCarthy (Leo Gaxha 85), Stephen Walsh. Subs not used: Joe Wright (GK), Conor O’Keeffe, Patrick Hickey, Francely Lomboto, Kyle Fitzgerald.

DUNDALK FC: Ross Munro, Zak Johnson, Andy Boyle, Mayowa Animasahun (Cami Elliott HT), Archie Davies, Zak Bradshaw, Paul Doyle (Eoin Kenny 81), John Mountney (Hayden Muller 34), Daryl Horgan, Sam Durrant (Ryan O’Kane 69), Jamie Gullan. Subs not used: Seán Molloy (GK), Jamie Walker, Louie Annesley, Luke Mulligan, Seán Keogh.

REFEREE: Mark Houlihan.

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