League Report: Galway United 1 - 3 Drogheda United

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

This Race Week game had home fans racing for the exits early on in Deacy Park as Drogheda United coasted to a 3-1 victory against their hosts.

Goals from Luke McNally, Chris Lyons and Stephen Meaney over the course of ten minutes of the first half were enough to see them past The Tribesmen.

An early second half goal from Marc Ludden gave the home side a glimmer of hope but Drogheda never really got out of second gear in this one and saw the game out.

Struggling Galway had the better of the opening exchanges with Stephen Walsh striking a shot just wide after a great wide ball played by Marc Ludden in the opening minute of the contest. Vinny Faherty went close ten minutes later from a Colin Kelly corner, nodding the ball just wide of the post.

A Maurice Nugent free kick nearly created a goal in the first half for the home side too in the 13^th minute when Vinny Faherty nodded the ball down in the box to Colin Kelly but the young forward’s effort was blocked down by the Drogheda defence.

In the 20^th minute Luke McNally easily nodded the ball into the net from a Sean Brennan corner. Kevin Horgan will have been furious with his defence as he got blocked allowing the Drogheda player score an easy goal.

Three minutes later a poor Stephen Walsh clearance coughed up possession to the away side. The mistake allowed Chris Lyons in for a chance and he easily slipped past Killian Brouder and smashed the ball into the back of the net.

The Boynesiders were out of sight with a half an hour gone. The Tribesmen looked like they had given up as Conor Kane received the ball on the left flank, unmarked. He crossed the ball into the Stephen Meaney who nodded the ball into the bottom of the net with no challenge from a Galway player.

Five minutes after the re-start Galway managed to get a goal to put a few smiles on the faces of home fans. Conor Layng showed off some great hold up play before a great pass to Donal Higgins who took the ball to the baseline in the box. The young midfielder dragged the ball back excellently for Marc Ludden who thumped the ball low and hard into the net.

Galway had their chances to grab more goals in this one but poor finishing cost them dearly with Brouder missing two clear cut chances on his debut for the club. The Tribesmen have now gone twelve games without a win.

Galway United: Kevin Horgan; Iarfhlaith Davoran (Joe Collins, 42), Stephen Walsh, Maurice Nugent, Killian Brouder; Marc Ludden, Donal Higgins, Andrew Peters, Colin Kelly (Stephen Christopher 45); Conor Layng (Conor Melody, 76), Vinny Faherty.

Subs not used: Cian Mulryan, Adam Rooney, Cian Murphy.

Booked: Donal Higgins (20)

Drogheda United: Luca Gratzer; Conor Kane, Kevin Farragher, Sean Brennan, Chris Lyons (Ryan O’Shea, 82), Jamie Hollywood (Cian Kavanagh, 64); Jake Hyland, Mark Doyle, Stephen Meaney (Jordan Adeyemo, 57); Luke McNally, Luke Heeney.

Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Eoin McPhilips, James Clarke, Luke Ring.

Booked:

Referee: Ray Matthews

Attendance: 612

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Mark Doyle (Drogheda United)