Galway United 1-1 Dundalk FC
By Jamie Curley
Galway United’s chance to move into second in the Premier Division was denied by a last-gasp equaliser from Dundalk’s Eoin Kenny in a tight 1-1 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park.
With European football at stake, Patrick Hickey’s first-half goal wasn’t enough to get all three points for John Caufield’s men.
Over 4,000 spectators made the trip to Terryland as Galway United held their penultimate home game of the season against a Dundalk side who failed to win any of their last five games.
Dundalk had the first major chance of the game in the fourth minute as John Mountney found himself unmarked in the box, but his header went straight at Brendan Clarke.
Karl O’Sullivan came on for an injured Edward McCarthy and rejuvenated the Tribesmen, making himself a threat off the left flank.
Dundalk nearly gifted the hosts a goal as keeper Ross Munro misplaced his pass to Jimmy Keohane. Keohane nearly put Hickey through on goal but a clean challenge saw him dispossessed right in front of goal.
Hickey’s efforts were finally rewarded as O’Sullivan’s well-struck cross found the head of the American, who powered it past Munro five minutes from half-time.
Galway looked to carry their momentum in the second half and started the half stronger with O’Sullivan nearly being the difference maker once again. Winning the ball in the final third, he dribbled his way into the box and his deflected effort nearly made it through the legs of Munro who scrambled the ball out for a corner.
Dundalk started to invite themselves back into the game as Dara Keane’s header looked destined for goal but was just intercepted on the line by Killian Brouder.
A tense close to the game was inevitable with both sides looking for a big result in their respective fights at the opposite ends of the table.
It would end in heartbreak for the men in maroon as Dundalk’s search for an equaliser was found by Eoin Kenny, who buried his header into the bottom corner of the net.
A tough pill to swallow for Galway as their European and title ambitions take a massive hit. All eyes are now focused on the Sunday fixture between Shamrock Rovers and league leaders Shelbourne, a game that could play a part in the conclusion of Galway’s season.
Galway United:
Clarke; Brouder, Walsh, Cunningham, Hickey (Slevin 84), Borden (Hurley 70), Keohane, Horgan, McCormack, McCarthy (O’Sullivan 27), Buckley.
Dundalk:
Munro; Boyle, Oostenbrink (Hakiki 73), Horgan (O’Kane 73), Benson (Keane 45), Gullan, Doyle (Garbett 45), Mountney, Keogh (Kenny 81), Cann, Dervin.