League Report: Galway United 1-1 Cork City

Galway United ended Cork city’s perfect start to the Airtricity Premier Division campaign as they deservedly shared the spoils with the league leaders at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday evening.

The game began at a frantic pace with both sides attacking at every opportunity. The home side created a couple of chances through Kevin Devaney, Mark McNulty saving one with his feet, before the visitors had a Kevin O’Connor free-kick tipped onto the crossbar by a flying Conor Winn save after 10 minutes.

The Tribesmen almost hit the front on 26 minutes when Padraic Cunningham was just off target as he headed Marc Ludden’s left wing cross just past the post. Former Cork City player Gavan Holohan then forced Mark McNulty into a cracking save as the Cork goalkeeper pushed away his stinging effort.

Just before the break Galway goalkeeper Conor Winn had to make a good stop beating away a well struck effort from Cork fullback Steven Beattie, while Karl Sheppard saw two dangerous deliveries cleared with vital interceptions by Galway’s Gary Shanahan on the stroke of half time.

Scoreless at the break, Cork started the second period on the front foot and broke the deadlock just before the hour mark. Midfielder Conor McCormack saw his shot deflected off a Galway defender to completely wrong foot Conor Winn as the ball nestled in the net for 1-0.

Galway responded immediately though and were level within two minutes as former Cork City player Stephen Folan looped a header over Mark McNulty from Colm Horgan’s free-kick to record his first goal for his home town club.

With Cork pushing hard for a winner, the home side were relying on hitting the league leaders on the break through Devaney and Murray’s pace. With fifteen minutes remaining Karl Sheppard did well on the right before delivering a good cross to the back post were Gary Shanahan almost headed into his own net, striking the crossbar as he attempted to head away for a corner.

From the resultant corner Ryan Delaney’s effort was well saved by Conor Winn and Sean Maguire’s follow up was blocked on the line as Galway scrambled to clear before sub Alan Bennett’s effort was blocked by a wall of Galway players in the six yard box. The Galway goal survived but just about.

In the final ten minutes Cork piled on the pressure but found the Galway defence, brilliantly marshalled by Stephen Folan and Lee Grace, weren’t going to give away chances too easily. Sub Jimmy Keohane had a shot deflected away by Grace and then shot over from the edge of the box.

Galway could have won it deep into injury time as Padraic Cunningham broke into the Cork City box and, with Ronan Murray free inside him, he decided to shoot but Alan Bennett brilliantly got a vital touch to poke the ball away for a corner. 

An even later break from the home side saw them race up field with a three versus two as Ronan Murray carried the ball towards the box he was hauled down by Ryan Delaney before he could pass outside to either of his two supporting team mates. Stephen Folan fired the free-kick over the wall but also over the Cork crossbar for the final action of an action packed and very entertaining game.

Cork remain twelve points clear at the top of the Premier Division table, while Galway extend their unbeaten run to eight games and registered a seventh draw in the league.

Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Marc Ludden, Lee Grace, Stephen Folan: Gary Shanahan, Gavan Holohan, Alex Byrne, Kevin Devaney (Jesse Devers 93); Ronan Murray, Padraic Cunningham.

Subs Not Used: Paul Sinnott, Conor Melody, Aaron Conway, Maurice Nugent, Robert Spelman, Ciaran Nugent (GK).

Booked: Padraic Cunningham 63, Ronan Murray 86.

Cork City: Mark McNulty; Stephen Beattie (Alan Bennett 67), John Dunleavy, Ryan Delaney, Kevin O’Connor; Conor McCormack, Gavin Morrissey (Jimmy Keohane42); Karl Sheppard, Gary Buckley, Stephen Dooley; Sean Maguire.

Subs not used: Shane Griffin, Conor Ellis, Greg Bolger, Achille Campion, Alan Smith (GK).

Booked: Steven Beattie 62, Conor McCormack 76, Karl Sheppard 93, Ryan Delaney 95, Mark McNulty 93

Referee: Robert Harvey

Attendance: 1,231

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Stephen Folan (Galway United)