League Report: Galway United 1 - 0 Cobh Ramblers

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Cobh Ramblers at Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

Killian Brouder scored his first goal of the season to give the Tribesmen the three points and keep the pressure on First Division leaders Cork City.

Galway United made three changes from their loss to Longford Town last week with Alex Murphy and Spanish duo Manu Dimas and Diego Portilla starting Friday night’s game in place of Stephen Walsh, Charlie Lyons and Max Hemmings.

Cobh Ramblers were playing their first game in two weeks having been the idle team for last weekend’s series of games. They lost to Bray Wanderers in their previous outing. Darren Murphy made three changes from the loss with Ben O’Riordan, Jason Abbott and Jake Hegarty being replaced by Darryl Walsh, Brendan Frahill and Sean McGrath.

The home side had an effort saved in the opening minutes when Killian Brouder threaded a ball through to David Hurley. The former Ramblers man dinked a cross in to Manu Dimas who dove forward to head the ball on goal but Andy O’Donoghue made the save.

O’Donoghue made a great save in the eighth minute when a wayward clearance found Conor McCormack on the edge of the box, Galway’s captain fired off a great shot with Cobh’s goalkeeper only managing to tip the ball over the bar at full stretch.

It took until the 30^th minute for the next effort on target with Wilson Waweru played in on goal by an Ed McCarthy through ball. The striker raced toward goal trailed by the Ramblers defence, but his effort was struck straight at O’Donoghue, allowing the goalkeeper to make an easy save.

Alex Murphy had a shot tipped over the bar in the 57^th minute after some great play by Hurley in the centre of the park. His pass to Mikie Rowe was flicked on to the left-back who had been causing trouble on the wing all night and O’Donoghue just managed to make the fingertip save from his shot.

Hurley had a shot that looked destined for the top corner in the 66^th minute when he fired off from outside the box but a brave intervention from Harlain Mbayo with his head denied the midfielder and sent the ball out for a corner-kick.

The resulting corner was the undoing for the visitors however, it was Hurley who sent the high ball into the box with Stephen Walsh meeting it near the back post and sending it back across the goal with Brouder able to take the shot on and stroke it beyond the goalkeeper for the lead.

There was little to report on in the latter stages of the game as the Tribesmen prevented Ramblers from securing an equaliser.

Galway United host Wexford next Saturday night while Cobh Ramblers face Waterford at St Colman’s Park on Friday.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; Killian Brouder, Alex Murphy (Jordan Adeyemo, 93), Conor O'Keeffe, Diego Portilla; David Hurley, Conor McCormack, Mikie Rowe (Charlie Lyons, 90); Manu Dimas (Stephen Walsh 58), Edward McCarthy (Max Hemmings, 83), Wilson Waweru (Gary Boylan, 83).

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Evan O'Connor, Ronan Manning, Francely Lomboto.

Booked: Stephen Walsh (73), Conor McCormack (82).

Cobh Ramblers: Andy O'Donoghue; Harlain Mbayo (Ben O'Riordan, 80), John Kavanagh, Brendan Frahill, Darryl Walsh (Issa Kargbo, 80); Danny O'Connell, Sean McGrath (Jake Hegarty 70), Jack Larkin, Dale Holland (Jason Abbott 89); Beineon O'Brien Whitmarsh, Conor Drinan.

Subs not used: Darragh Burke, James O'Leary, James McCarthy, , Pierce Phillips, Darragh O'Sullivan-Connell.

Booked: Darryl Walsh (35) , Andy O'Donoghue (53) Brendan Frahill (64).

Referee: Alan Patchell.

Attendance: 1,500 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Killian Brouder (Galway United)