Walsh Equaliser Quells Galway’s Relegation Worries for Another Day
By Conall Diggin
It was honours even at Eamonn Deacy Park as Galway United and Drogheda United drew 1-1 in the westerners’ final home game of the season.
The first half started with very little to excite the neutrals, the first chance not coming until the 14th minute. A lovely run and cross from Jeannot Esua wasn’t cleared well by the Drogheda defence, falling to the feet of fullback Bobby Burns who failed to get any venom behind his shot.
Some sustained pressure would see Burns turn creator, knocking a cross to the back post where he connected with Galway winger Dara McGuinness before his header went wide of the mark.
Drogheda’s first chance of the game came in the 22nd minute; an inswinging corner from Shane Farrell who found James Bolger unmarked at the back post, but the Drogs defender’s attempt lacked any power and was easily grabbed by Brendan Clarke.
A moment of concern for the Westerners came in the 33rd minute when, after chasing down a loose ball on the byline, McGuinness crashed into an advertising hoarding, staying down injured. The 21-year-old would not return to the game and after a lengthy delay was replaced by Ed McCarthy.
Galway’s best two chances of the half would come just before half-time.
David Hurley and Aaron Bolger stood over a free kick on the edge of the box. Bolger laid it off to Hurley, whose effort bobbled in front of Drogheda keeper Luke Dennison before the American would save face with his face.
Captain for the day Jimmy Keohane whipped in the resulting corner, which found Patrick Hickey unmarked in the box, but the American was unable to make anything of the header, as both sides would go into the break level.
The second half sprung into life early. Just 3 minutes after the restart, Drogheda took the lead.
Right back Owen Lambe’s cross evaded everyone, hitting the post; the rebound falling to Luke Heaney, who fashioned a cross inside the 6-yard box that looped over the head of Brendan Clarke and into the Galway net, putting Kevin Doherty’s men 1-0 up.
Minutes later Galway United almost replied in spectacular fashion. As Galway shotstopper Clarke hoofed a loose ball from inside his own half up the pitch, which almost lobbed over a scrambling Dennison in the Drogs net.
In the 55th minute, though, the home side would get their equaliser. A long ball knocked up to Hickey would be cleared straight to the feet of Kehoane, whose shot was well saved by Dennison. The rebound fell to Hickey, who from a sharp angle saw his shot cleared off the line, but on his 370th appearance for the maroon and gold, Stephen Walsh bundled home to put Galway back on level terms.
In the 66th minute Walsh almost doubled his tally as a corner wasn’t punched away well enough by Dennison, and it came to Walsh whose header could only hit the side netting.
Both sides failed to create much until the last five minutes of regulation.
Drogheda would have two chances well saved by Clarke; the first, a gilt-edged chance from Kieran Cruise, where he was left completely unmarked at the back post, was blocked by a combination of Clarke and the Galway defence.
Another big opportunity for the away side came in the 87th minute, a long throw from Lambe finding the feet of Drogheda defender Conor Keeley, who would turn and shoot first time, almost catching Clarke unaware.
The final chance of the game came from Keohane, who had caused problems for the away side all night, this time dribbling down the left before cutting inside the box only to see his shot blocked by Keeley.
The result means both sides will be looking at results elsewhere ahead of the final matchday next week as Galway United look to fend off a relegation playoff while Drogheda continue to try and push for European football.
Galway United: Clarke; Esua, Buckley, Brouder, Burns; McGuinness (McCarthy 38, Slevin 82), Bolger (Piesold 82), Hickey, Hurley, Keohane (Sivi 90); Walsh.
Drogheda United: Dennison; Lambe; Bolger, Keeley, Quinn, Kane (Cruise 79); Farrell (Stretton 75), Markey Heeney; Thomas (Oluwa 79), Kareem (Davis 66)
Referee: K O’Sullivan.
