Galway United 1
Drogheda United 1
By Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park
GALWAY United’s bid to avoid the dreaded relegation-promotion play-off will go to the wire after three games in the League of Ireland Premier League over the weekend all ended in draws, with the outcome that none of the teams involved were able to take any advantage.
With the season ending on Saturday and with all games kicking off at 4.30pm, an away contest against Waterford is not exactly ideal, but at least United know what they have to do. Escape defeat and safety is guaranteed.
Level on points with Sligo Rovers and Waterford, but enjoying the better goal difference, the hope is that this advantage will allow United escape the perilous relegation game against the First Division play-off winners.
Three home games in succession rewarded Galway United with seven points, with the outcome that their survival in the top-flight is still in their own hands.
At Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night, this was a hard-earned point. Drogheda are battling for a European qualifying position and like the home side had everything to play for.
Overall, the sides cancelled one another out, but the hosts showed their usual true grit to come from behind to grab a share of the spoils. “A proper battle” was how the visiting manager Kevin Doherty described it, while John Caulfield summed it up as “helter skelter in blustery conditions, but overall, it’s a point and we have all to play for now.”
The eleven who started in the 2-0 win over Bohemians the previous week were kept faith with for United’s last home game of the season. A crowd of almost 3,000 were looking for a win that would ease their concerns, but almost from the off it was clear that there was going to be nothing between the teams. Chances were at a premium – certainly in the opening half, with just one shot on target at either end.
Ass ever there was no shortage of endeavour from both teams, but the long ball was generally the route of choice, with the outcome that creativity just didn’t exist.
Defences dominated for the duration, with Brouder and Buckley the dominant central duo for the home side, as Keeley and Bolger reigned supreme at the other end of the park. With both sides operating in an almost similar style, this was a game of box-to-box football. In the opening half in particular, the goalkeepers were literally redundant, as the visiting custodian Luke Dennison had just one save to make and he was fortuitous with that.
Right on the stroke of half time, a United free kick on the edge of the box allowed Aaron Bulget tee up David Hurley and while his shot evaded the defensive wall, it bounced straight into the face of Dennison and deflected away for a fruitless corner.
Pictured: Galway United’s Dara McGuinness follows the flight of the ball against Conor Kane of Drogheda United during Friday’s Premier Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park. Photos: Joe O’Shaughnessy.
