Galway United 0 - 4 Millwall
Credit:
GALWAY United manager Ian Foster had been looking to iron out the kinks from a tough night at the office against Dundalk on Friday when his side took to Terryland Park in their friendly against Millwall. Instead they were run ragged and duly hided 4-0 by the visiting League One side.
United unusually hauled out an almost full strength team for the match with John Russell, Iarfhlaith Davoren and goalkeeper Barry Ryan the only notable absentees from the regular starting side. Suspended trio for Friday Jay O’Shea, Shane Guthrie and Michael McGrath all started, along with Derek O’Brien who has missed the last two league games due to a hamstring injury.
Despite their strong line-up though, Galway managed to concede after just 14 minutes of game time, Millwall striker Gary Alexander landed one from close range, deflecting in a shot that had rebounded off the cross bar from an initial cross.
Lewis Grabban flashed one past the face of goal minutes later, before David Martin slid one past the left post.
Two free kicks with great field position kept United under pressure, the second of these, taken by Alexander requiring replacement ‘keeper Ger Hanley to leap high and tip it over the bar with his fingertips.
At the opposite end, Galway-born Millwall ‘keeper David Forde was having very little to do, Jay O’Shea making a few small in-roads and obviously desperate to impress with English scouts looking on, but having no significant chances.
Galway was awarded a free kick from just outside the 18 yard box just a minute into the new half and Sean Kelly very nearly snatched the equaliser, but guided it just wide of the left post. Both sides had made wholesale changes at the start of the half, particularly Millwall who introduced six players from its' extensive bench.
The home side was holding its' own much better in the second half, although it was a somewhat tedious affair with neither side showing any real signs of mounting an impressive assault.
O’Shea continued to look good when on the ball and a particularly nice run saw him encroach into the box from out wide on the right, before flicking it back behind him in the direction of substitute striker Jason Molloy, although a Millwall defender scuppered the attack.
But two goals in two minutes stunted any hope Galway had of getting back into the game as the visiting League One side showed who was boss, Cris Hackett guiding one past Hanley in the 72nd minute, Neil Harris adding to their pain on 74 as he shook off a chasing Paul Sinnott to jam it in from close in.
The damage was not complete, though, and a fourth goal came in the 80th minute to substitute Ashley Grimes. It had proved a nightmare day at the office in general for young reserve ‘keeper Hanley who had been granted his first start since pre-season for Galway, but will not have been buoyed with confidence by a nervous performance against a quality opposition.
Millwall ran it out with ease, while Galway will be left to focus on this Friday’s all-important league match against Bray, desperately needing something against the last-placed Seagulls.
Galway United: Ger Hanley, Seamus Conneely, Shane Guthrie, Garry Breen (Paul Sinnott, 61mins), Mark O’Toole, Sean Kelly (Simon Walsh, 61mins), Jay O’Shea, David Cooke (Alan Murphy, 46mins), Michael McGrath, Derek O’Brien (Cian McBrien 46mins), Vinny Fahety (Jason Molloy, 61mins)
Subs not used: Barry Ryan, Mark O’Toole
Millwall: David Forde (John Sullivan, 46mins), Jack Smith (Ali Fuseini, 85mins), Tony Craig (Omar Beckles, 61mins), Andy Frampton (Alan Dunne, 46mins), Scott Barron, Lewis Grabban (Cris Hackett, 46mins), Ali Fuseini (Mark Laird, 46mins), Jimmy Abdou (Adam Bolder, 46mins), David Martin (Ashley Grimes, 46mins), Gary Alexander, Steve Morrison (Nigel Harris, 46mins)
Subs not used: Adam Bolder, Keinan Hughes-Mason
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)
United unusually hauled out an almost full strength team for the match with John Russell, Iarfhlaith Davoren and goalkeeper Barry Ryan the only notable absentees from the regular starting side. Suspended trio for Friday Jay O’Shea, Shane Guthrie and Michael McGrath all started, along with Derek O’Brien who has missed the last two league games due to a hamstring injury.
Despite their strong line-up though, Galway managed to concede after just 14 minutes of game time, Millwall striker Gary Alexander landed one from close range, deflecting in a shot that had rebounded off the cross bar from an initial cross.
Lewis Grabban flashed one past the face of goal minutes later, before David Martin slid one past the left post.
Two free kicks with great field position kept United under pressure, the second of these, taken by Alexander requiring replacement ‘keeper Ger Hanley to leap high and tip it over the bar with his fingertips.
At the opposite end, Galway-born Millwall ‘keeper David Forde was having very little to do, Jay O’Shea making a few small in-roads and obviously desperate to impress with English scouts looking on, but having no significant chances.
Galway was awarded a free kick from just outside the 18 yard box just a minute into the new half and Sean Kelly very nearly snatched the equaliser, but guided it just wide of the left post. Both sides had made wholesale changes at the start of the half, particularly Millwall who introduced six players from its' extensive bench.
The home side was holding its' own much better in the second half, although it was a somewhat tedious affair with neither side showing any real signs of mounting an impressive assault.
O’Shea continued to look good when on the ball and a particularly nice run saw him encroach into the box from out wide on the right, before flicking it back behind him in the direction of substitute striker Jason Molloy, although a Millwall defender scuppered the attack.
But two goals in two minutes stunted any hope Galway had of getting back into the game as the visiting League One side showed who was boss, Cris Hackett guiding one past Hanley in the 72nd minute, Neil Harris adding to their pain on 74 as he shook off a chasing Paul Sinnott to jam it in from close in.
The damage was not complete, though, and a fourth goal came in the 80th minute to substitute Ashley Grimes. It had proved a nightmare day at the office in general for young reserve ‘keeper Hanley who had been granted his first start since pre-season for Galway, but will not have been buoyed with confidence by a nervous performance against a quality opposition.
Millwall ran it out with ease, while Galway will be left to focus on this Friday’s all-important league match against Bray, desperately needing something against the last-placed Seagulls.
Galway United: Ger Hanley, Seamus Conneely, Shane Guthrie, Garry Breen (Paul Sinnott, 61mins), Mark O’Toole, Sean Kelly (Simon Walsh, 61mins), Jay O’Shea, David Cooke (Alan Murphy, 46mins), Michael McGrath, Derek O’Brien (Cian McBrien 46mins), Vinny Fahety (Jason Molloy, 61mins)
Subs not used: Barry Ryan, Mark O’Toole
Millwall: David Forde (John Sullivan, 46mins), Jack Smith (Ali Fuseini, 85mins), Tony Craig (Omar Beckles, 61mins), Andy Frampton (Alan Dunne, 46mins), Scott Barron, Lewis Grabban (Cris Hackett, 46mins), Ali Fuseini (Mark Laird, 46mins), Jimmy Abdou (Adam Bolder, 46mins), David Martin (Ashley Grimes, 46mins), Gary Alexander, Steve Morrison (Nigel Harris, 46mins)
Subs not used: Adam Bolder, Keinan Hughes-Mason
Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)
