A horrid start was the downfall of Letterkenny Institute of Technology in today’s CUFL quarter-final.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology 2 NUI Galway 3
A trio of goals in the opening 22 minutes propelled NUI Galway into a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in spite of stern LyIT pressure, but a Paul McVeigh brace wasn’t enough to salvage the tie from the wreckage.
NUI Galway played most of the second half with ten men after Evan Boyce was given a second booking on 53 minutes.
NUI Galway had taken the lead in the 12th minute when Gary Keenan headed home from a corner.
Eight minutes later, Boyce’s low shot crept in.
And LyIT’s woes were added when Conor Barr followed up to finish after his initial header cannoned off the crossbar.
LyIT hit back and were right in the mix when they parted ways at the interval.
McVeigh pounced to pull one back after Eoin Curry failed to hold his shot and on 37 minutes they got a real shot in the arm.
Daniel Doherty got a push in the back and McVeigh converted from the penalty spot.
McVeigh was denied his hat-trick when Curry beat away his effort after he connected with a Daire McDaid free-kick.
LyIT were the width of a post away from levelling as sub BJ Banda fired off the goal frame having been put through by McVeigh.
In injury time, Brian McVeigh’s goalbound header was blocked by a Galway arm, but appeals for a penalty fell upon deaf ears and LyIT were headed for the exit.
Letterkenny Institute of Technology: Mark McElhinney; Adrian Delap, Caolan McDaid, Ciaran Kelly, Lee McColgan, Daire McDaid, Dean Larkin, Paul McVeigh, Brian McVeigh, Daniel Doherty, Ryan Connolly. Subs: Simon McGlynn for Connolly (55), BJ Banda for Doherty (65).
NUI Galway: Eoin Curry, Garrett Burns, Gary Keneen, Paul Healy, Maurice Nugent, Evan Boyce, Eoin Walsh, Conor Barry, Josh Marvelsey, Alan Murphy, Conor Melody. Subs: Chris Reed for Burns, Joe Hynes for Barry (both half-time), Allie Sanusai for Murphy (68), Rory Brennan for Walsh (70).
