Match Report | Galway United 1-0 Treaty United ( First Division)
Galway United continued their perfect start to the season with a 1-0 victory over Treaty United at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.
The only goal of the game saw two new signings combine as Regan Donelan’s first half corner was met by Rob Slevin who headed home to open his account for the club. There was a jubilant atmosphere before kick-off for United’s first home game of the season as the supporters turned out in great numbers to support the Tribesmen in what they believe will be a strong 2023 campaign.
The game began with both sides having spells of possession and trying to gain control in the contest before United had a shout for a penalty after 8 minutes as Colm Horgan’s cross was met by Stephen Walsh whose header looked to strike the arm of Andy Spain, but the referee waved away the home sides protests. The Tribesmen limited Treaty to very few chances in the first half, the best of which came after 13 minutes as William Armshaw showed great control in the area before volleying over the crossbar.
Ronan Manning began to cause problems for the defense with his pace and won a free kick after 17 minutes. He delivered to the back post where Vincent Borden acrobatically diverted the ball back across goal but Treaty managed to scramble the ball away for a corner. 29 minutes into the game Ed McCarthy sprung a counter attack with one of his many powerful runs throughout the night and was cynically fouled by defender Andy Spain for the first yellow card of the evening. The goal came after 37 minutes as Regan Donelan delivered a wonderful corner which found Rob Slevin who nodded in his first goal in maroon. The goal rewarded United’s control in the game and gave the home side a deserved lead. United almost doubled their advantage just before the break as Stephen Walsh had an effort from a tight angle tipped over the bar for a corner after 43 minutes.
The second half began with Treaty trying to get themselves back into the game and after 50 minutes a good Treaty move was cut short by a brilliant challenge from Rob Slevin who had a great performance in his home debut. The subsequent corner saw former Galway United man Enda Curran get a shot off which forced a save from Brendan Clarke in the United goal.
The Tribesmen regained their foothold in the game and began to create chances, the first of which came after 52 minutes as Donelan slipped the ball through to Manning who skipped past a defender and attempted to pull the ball back across goal, but it was intercepted and put out for a United corner. This then led to a fracas in the Treaty United penalty area in which David Hurley and Rob Slevin were both booked, as well as Lee Devitt for Treaty. After 56 minutes United had their best chance of the half through Ronan Manning. Manning picked the ball up on the halfway line and proceeded to beat three Treaty defenders and found himself one-on-one with Conor Winn in the Treaty goal, but his left footed shot went just wide of the far post. Galway were pressing to find their second goal throughout the second half with Ed McCarthy continuing to threaten the Treaty defence with his runs down the right wing and he tested Winn with a couple of shots within a 5 minute spell as the game approached the final 10 minutes.
Rob Manley was introduced midway through the half, and he fashioned an opportunity for himself after 88 minutes as he won the ball on the halfway line and drove into the box before getting a shot off which went just wide of the near post. The last of three additional minutes at the end of the second half saw Enda Curran have an effort from the edge of the Galway box, but his shot flew over the bar. The full time whistle was greeted by a roar from the Galway United faithful as they extended their perfect start to the 2023 campaign with the 1-0 victory.
Speaking after the game Ollie Horgan commented:
Today was great, we won it, albeit not being that pretty’
‘We need to accumulate as many points as we can’
‘We did create chances regardless of not being at our best’
Attendance: 2304
Teams:
Galway United: B. Clarke, C. Horgan, R. Slevin, K. Brouder, R. Donelan, E. McCarthy, C. McCormack, V. Borden (M. Nugent 90’), R. Manning (D. Clarke 76’), D. Hurley (R.Manley 62’), S. Walsh (M. Rowe 90’).
Treaty United: C. Winn, B. O’Riordan, A. Spain, A. O’Donnell, M. Ludden, L. Devitt, C. Barry (A. Byrne 83’), W. Armshaw (D. George 67’), M. Walsh (C. Kelly 83’), E. Curran, S. Christopher (S. Edogun 67’).
Next up, Galway United face Waterford in the Regional Sports Centre on Friday, March 3rd, at 7:45 pm.
About Post Author
