SSE Airtricity League Premier Division: Galway United 1 Derry City 0
It’s a case of one step forward and two steps back for Derry City, as their title challenge suffered a major blow at Galway United.
After moving into top spot last week, the Brandywell men slipped to three points behind leaders Shelbourne, as Patrick Hickey’s second half goal was enough for John Caulfield’s men to secure the points, at Eamonn Deacy Park, while Damien Duff’s side won on the road at Dundalk.
While City felt that goalkeeper Brian Maher was fouled in the lead up to Hickey’s goal, that wasn’t the case as the Dubliner actually collided with team-mate Daniel Mullen and then dropped the ball into the big striker’s path.
With only seven league games remaining City need to raise their game massively, if they harbour any hopes of securing their first league title since 1997.
The Foylesiders were again slow and pedestrian in their build-up in the opening 45 minutes and have now failed to score in 21 of 29 first halves in the league this season.
City made two changes to the side which won at Waterford last week with Sadou Diallo and Shane McEleney replacing the injured Cameron Dummigan and Ben Doherty, with the latter dropping to the bench.
As for the home side, United manager Caulfield stuck with the same side for the fourth game running.
City had the first half chance of the encounter on 17 minutes as Diallo’s 25 yard stinging strike, which had United goalkeeper Brendan Clarke beaten, whistled just past the left hand post.
The home side went close themselves on 24 minutes as Jimmy Keohane picked up the ball up some 20 yards from goal and his low curling effort was comfortably tipped around his left hand post by a diving City keeper Maher.
Derry had strong claims for a penalty just after the half-hour mark as Michael Duffy seemed to be clipped inside the box by Conor McCormack, but referee Kevin O’Sullivan awarded a goal kick.
The visitors missed a golden chance on 37 minutes as a clever flick by Adam O’Reilly released Paul McMullan down the right, his clever cut-back found an in-rushing Will Patching, but the midfielder’s tame strike from 12 yards failed to trouble Clarke and went wide.
Galway were forced into a change early in the second half as Killian Brouder was replaced by Robert Slevin, after the centre-back failed to properly recover from his first half knock.
Clarke made a wonder save on 60 minutes to deny Patching, the ex-St Patrick’s Athletic net-minder dived to his left to tip over the English man’s stinging effort, after the ball had fallen kindly inside the United penalty box.
Derry striker Pat Hoban, who in recent weeks has struggled in front of goal, went close, but his snap-shot on the turn from 15 yards was cleared off the line by Gregory Cunningham.
The Tribesmen went close on 74 minutes but Patrick Hickey’s header at the back post flashed just over Maher’s crossbar. A minute later the Candystripes made a double change with Patrick McEleney and Daniel Mullen replacing Diallo and Hoban.
Caulfield’s men broke the deadlock on 76 minutes as substitute David Hurley’s high free-kick seemed to be dropped by Maher and the alert Hickey was on hand to turn the loose ball home, while the visitors were furious, referee Kevin O’Sullivan waved their protests away.
City really should have equalised minutes later as McMullan skipped down the right wing, before seeing his lovely chipped cross find an unmarked Mullen, but his close range header was straight at Clarke, who gathered at the second attempt.
Ruaidhrí Higgins made a triple change on 83 minutes with Doherty, Ronan Boyce and Colm Whelan coming on for Ciaran Coll, Andre Wisdom and O’Reilly, but truth it didn’t affect the game.
Galway United: Clarke, Eusa (Horgan 89), Brouder (Slevin 53), Buckley, Cunningham; Keohane, McCormack (Nugent 63), Borden (Hurley 63), Hickey, McCarthy (Burns 89); Walsh.
Derry City: Maher, Wisdom (Boyce 82), Connolly, S McEleney, Coll (Doherty 82); Diallo (P McEleney 75), O’Reilly (Whelan 82), Patching; McMullan, Hoban (Mullen 76), Duffy.
Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan (Cork).
