League Report: Galway United 1 - 2 Derry City

Derry City came away from Eamonn Deacy Park with all three points in a 2-1 win over Galway United on Friday night in the SSE Airtricty Premier Division.

Two second-half goals from Sean Houston and Ryan Curran cancelled out Sam Oji’s first-half header. It was the big centre-half’s first appearance in a maroon shirt and he was impressive throughout.

After a nervy opening ten minutes from both sides, it was United that dominated the first-half with confident, smooth passing in blustery conditions. Peter Hutton’s Derry City looked bereft of ideas throughout the opening 45 minutes.

Both teams employed 4-5-1 formations but it was the Galway midfield trio of Paul Sinnott, Ryan Connolly and new signing David O’Leary that helped the Tribesmen control possession and territory.

The game came alive when Jake Keegan was fed by striker Enda Curran on 15 minutes but the American fired wide. Keegan was again involved minutes later and from his cross, a corner followed. Connolly’s inswinger was met by Oji who powered home Galway United’s first goal in four years on 18 minutes, much to the delight of the large and noisy home support.

The home side were now in control and pressed for goal number two. A Keegan chance on 28 minutes was followed by a Connolly half-chance and, as the pressure built, Derry City defender Shane McEleney nearly lobbed his own goalkeeper on 38 minutes. 

The Candystripes rarely threatened Connor Gleeson in the United goal and their only chance fell to Paddy McEleney just before the break, but the forward never made the connection desired and Tommy Dunne’s side went in comfortable 1-0 leaders at the break.

Derry re-jigged their midfield for the second period and the team as a whole had renewed potency. The visitors’ reshuffle prevented Galway from playing their crisp passing game and thus, the United juggernaut ground to a halt.

Naively, the home side began to step off and Derry didn’t waste time creating chances through playmaker Paddy McEleney. The skilful forward was now in command up top as City’s grip over the game continued.

The equaliser was indeed threatening but it came from United’s defensive mistakes and Houston simply had to tap in from Paddy McEleney’s cross on 59 minutes. That goal turned the game on its head and The Tribesmen were now playing second fiddle.

Galway United never really looked like scoring after that and Derry went ahead in freakish circumstances with ten minutes remaining. Curran’s miss-directed header fooled everyone in the ground, including goalkeeper Gleeson, to send the visiting support into a frenzy.

For United, this was a lesson learned on their return to the Premier Division, while Derry fans and players know that there will be no repeat of last season’s poor start to the league. 

Galway United: Connor Gleeson; Colm Horgan, Andy O’Connell (Jason Molloy 84), Sam Oji, Stephen Walsh; Gary Shanahan, David O’Leary, Paul Sinnot (c), Ryan Connolly, Jake Keegan; Enda Curran (Padraic Cunningham 76).
Subs not used: Conor Winn (gk), Cormac Raftery, Aaron McDonagh, Conor Barry, Antaine O’Laoi.

Booked: Jake Keegan (11)

Derry City: Ger Doherty; Shaun Kelly, Shane McEleney, Aron Barry, Dean Jarvis; Philip Lowry, Josh Daniels, Sean Houston, Josh Daniels, Paddy McEleney; Ryan Curran.
Subs Not used: Shaun Patton (gk), Patrick McClean, George Kelly, Ronan Curtis, Chris Flanagan, Joe McIntyre, Ryan Doherty.

Booked: Aaron Barry (34), Philip Lowry (82).

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

Attendance: 2,254

Extratime.ie Player of the match: Paddy McEleney (Derry City)