FOR GALWAY UNITED, it was a case of patience being a virtue against Finn Harps in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division at Eamonn Deacy Park tonight.
Galway United 1-0 Finn Harps
For long spells by the banks of the Corrib, Ollie Horgan’s side looked to be frustrating their hosts in his hometown. However, on the 59th minute Galway put together the best passage of play in the match, which turned out to be something decisive enough to win the match.
Photo caption: Gareth Harkin clears a ball for Finn Harps against Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park tonight. Photo: Gary Foy, newsandsportfiles.com
From a slick move, Colm Horgan squared to Gary Curran, who in turn fed Kevin Devaney down the right and his daisy-cutting cross was tucked in at the back post by Vinny Faherty.
The thing was, the goal came at a point in the contest when Harps were growing more and more into the match.
They’d chances – but didn’t work the goalkeeper enough.
On 56 minutes, an excellent glancing header from Dave Scully flashed inches over Conor Winn’s crossbar when Adam Hanlon centred.
And just after the goal, Harps had another sniff when Ryan Curran put an outstretched foot on a short Paul Sinnott header and the ball bounced a few foot wide.
A routine save from Winn on 72 minutes from substitute Kevin McHugh was Harps’ only shot on goal in the contest.
In many ways, when they went behind, it was a little like Harps’ 1-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers last month when some might’ve felt the Ballybofey side deserved a a draw but tonight there was no doubt about the goal in Galway.
When Harps went that goal down, despite another hugely committed performance, they didn’t really look like they’d have enough to pull it from the fire late on.
Discipline was the name of the game for Horgan’s side. There were occasional flashes from Galway United’s wingers – Davaney and Gary Shanahan – and Curran inside, but Harps stuck to their task.
There was something of a an early let-off for the visitors though. A free from in front of the stand from Ryan Connolly on the left was whisked in with intent.
The Harps defensive line was static as the ball flew into the corridor of uncertainly in front of goalkeeper Richard Brush, who stood his ground as Faherty missed out on connecting by inches.
Brush was called into in the 16th minute when Devaney skipped inside Damien McNulty before trying a curler on the right foot. It was well-struck but was never going to beat the Harps netminder, who gathered simply.
It was the only shot on target by either team in the first half. From the away team’s perspective it looked as though the best way to create something was from a Tony McNamee long throw-in or perhaps a dead ball.
Harps’ best chance came on 34 minutes when, from a decent move, Scully set Ethan Boyle free down the right. His first time cross on the ground was met by the incoming Curran, who, from 15 yards couldn’t keep his effort down and the ball fizzed off to the right of Winn’s goal.
Galway fashioned a decent opening right at the end of the first 45 minutes when Ryan Connolly’s pass dissected the Harps defence on its right channel but Devaney ignored the options inside and skewed his effort wide of Brush’s goal.
Harps, who face a difficult month of April with another trip to Galway in the EA Sports Cup as well as journeys to Cork City and Wexford Youths in the league, have back to back home fixtures on Monday and Friday against St Patrick’s Athletic and Bray Wanderers.
Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Paul Sinnott, Killian Cantwell, Stephen Walsh; Gary Shanahan, John Sullivan, Ryan Connolly, Kevin Devaney; Enda Curran (Pauric Cunningham 89); Vinny Faherty.
Finn Harps: Richard Brush; Damien McNulty, Packie Mailey, Keith Cowan, Ciaran Coll; Adam Hanlon (Liam Flatley 84), Ethan Boyle, Gareth Harkin, Dave Scully (Sean Houston 70); Tony McNamee (Kevin McHugh 70); Ryan Curran.
Referee: Jim McKell.
Tags: