Galway United were beaten in their League of Ireland opener against Drogheda United in Eammon Deacy Park on Friday after a 91st minute winner from the visitors.
The hosts were left to rue a missed penalty and plenty of squandered chances when Jago Godden struck a low, driven shot past Evan Watts in the Galway goal after a long throw in from Conor Kane wasn’t dealt with by the Galway defence.
There was a cagey feel to the game early on as both sides tried to figure each other out. The contest finally burst into life 10 minutes in when Drogs striker Thomas Oluwa, who was a handful for the hosts all evening, looked to have broken through the Galway defence only to be denied by a last ditch Wasiri William’s tackle.
The tribesmen grew into the contest as the half went on, and should have taken the lead in the 25th minute when Williams hit the crossbar with a close-range header, and the rebound from captain Jimmy Keohane trickled narrowly wide.
Minutes later Stephen Walsh had a good chance after good play from Lee Devitt down the left, but his glancing effort was too tame and was easily gathered by Luke Dennison in the Drogheda goal. At the start of the second half, Walsh and Keohane both had chances but sent their efforts over the bar.
In the 64th minute, an excellent pass from debutant Arthur Parker, who was very impressive overall, found Keohane in the box and he was tripped by Drogheda defender Andrew Quinn. Referee Oliver Moran had no hesitation in pointing to the spot; however, the usually ever-reliable David Hurley fired his penalty agonisingly wide.
This lifted the Boynesiders and they had a great chance five minutes later, but after a fine cross from Ethan O’Brien found substitute Warren Davis at the back post, his header was far too tame to beat Watts. In the 85th minute Parker and the whole stadium thought he had scored when he arrowed a ferocious strike towards the bottom corner, only for it to be diverted wide by a miraculous block.
Drogheda, under Kevin Doherty, will always keep going to the end and their resilience paid off in stoppage time, when Kane’s long throw bobbled around the box and Ryan Brennan set up Godden to fire Drogheda ahead.
John Caulfield’s men gave everything to try and claw back an equaliser and had chances, but Devitt’s late effort was deflected wide, and Williams had another header but couldn’t beat Dennison.
A fantastic win on the road for Drogheda, but Galway will feel that they deserved at least a point, if not all three. A trip to Dublin to face Shelbourne awaits the Tribesmen next week, while Drogheda will host Waterford.
Teams:
Galway United: Evan Watts (GK), Killian Brouder, Wasiri Williams, Gianfranco Facchineri, Lee Devitt, Arthur Parker, Jimmy Keohane (C), David Hurley, Aaron Bolger, Francely Lomboto, Stephen Walsh.
Substitutes:
Matty Wolfe (Jimmy Keohane) 71’
Kirs Twardek (Stephen Walsh) 86’
Conor McCormack (Aaron Bolger) 90’
Drogheda United: Luke Dennison (GK), Edwin Agbaje, Leo Burney, Conor Keeley, Andrew Quinn, Conor Kane, Ethan O’Brien, Shane Farrell, Mark Doyle, Brandon Kavanagh, Thomas Oluwa.
Substitutes:
Jago Godden (Shane Farrell) 63’
Ryan Brennan (Brandon Kavanagh) 67’
Warren Davis (Mark Doyle) 67’
Referee: Oliver Moran.
