Derry City fall to successive defeats as Galway United hit late Brandywell winner

Derry City 0

Galway United 1

Stephen Walsh's late goal at the Bradywell means that Derry City now head to Tolka Park on Easter Monday eight points behind league leaders Shelbourne. 

The Galway United substitute scored the only goal of the game just five minutes from time to condemn Ruaidhri Higgins’ team to successive league defeats.

It was a poor night for the home side, who failed to register a single shot on target throughout. 

Galway wasted no time in making their intentions known, with Karl O’Sullivan binging a good save from Brian Maher, with a well-hit effort from 20 yards.

Derry produced little to get their fans excited about in the first half hour, but Shane McEleney almost provided it when he met Michael Duffy’ corner, but his downward header went just wide of the target.

The home side tried to inject some urgency into their game in the second half and they almost got their goal on 57 minutes when Duffy whipped a free kick into the area and Mark Connolly sent a bullet header goalwards, but it went just over the bar.

It seemed as if City’s best chance of a goal was from a set-play and Ronan Boyce, already with two goals this season, should have done better when he was picked out unmarked from anther Duffy corner, but he headed wide.

Galway then passed up the best chance of the game just past the hour mark when Jordan McEneff lost the ball in his own half and Vincent Borden immediately played Aodh Dervin through on goal. The pacy winger was one on one with Brian Maher, but couldn’t beat the City goalkeeper who produced a big stop to save his team.

With his team still without a shot on target after 65 minutes, Ruaidhri Higgins sent Pat Hoban on, hoping the striker could add to his six goals this season.

The biggest cheer of the night soon followed when Ciaron Harkin made his return from injury after two years of injury hell, the midfielder coming on to replace Jordan McEneff, making his 100th appearance for the club in the process.

But it was ultimately Galway celebrating as they scored the crucial breakthrough goal with just five minutes left. It was a brilliant solo effort from Galway substitute Stephen Walsh, who received a long ball from defence before lobbing it past Connolly to go through on goal and slide the ball calmly beyond Maher into the corner of the net.

Teams

Derry City: Maher, Boyce, S McEleney, Connolly, McJannet; Patching, McEneff (Harkin 76’), Mullan; Kelly (Hoban 65’), Mullen (Patton 84’), McMullan.

Galway United: Clarke, Kazeem, Slevin, Brouder, Esua, McCormack, Hurley (Donelon 90’), Borden (Hickey 90’), Dervin (Walsh 68’), McCarthy, O’Sullivan (Nugent 90’).

Referee: Declan Toland.