League Report: Galway United 1 – 1 Wexford

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United continued their unbeaten run at home this season with a 1-1 draw against Wexford on Saturday evening.

Aaron Dobbs put the visitors in front in the first half but Stephen Walsh came to the rescue again this season with his fourth goal of 2022 earning a point for the home side.

John Caulfield made two changes to the side that beat Cobh Ramblers 1-0 last weekend with Stephen Walsh and Gary Boylan coming into the team in place of David Hurley and Manu Dimas.

Wexford manager Ian Ryan named a much-changed side from their 1-0 loss to Cork City with Paul Hunt, Thomas Considine, Jordan Tallon and Conor Davis all dropping to the bench. Alex Moody, Aidan Friel, Conor Crowley and Dinny Corcoran started the game for the visitors.

The visitors took the lead in the 18^th minute after a defensive error by Galway’s Killian Brouder. A long searching ball went over the head of the defender when he misjudged its flight, Aaron Dobbs nipped in ahead of Brouder and placed the ball past Conor Kearns for his second goal of the season.

Galway were almost back on level terms minutes later when McCormack struck the woodwork from the edge of the box as United increased the intensity of their attack. The shot beat everyone in a crowded box, but it needed to be an inch to the right to avoid the post.

Wexford goalkeeper Alex Moody was called into action a minute later when Boylan played a dangerous cross deep into the box, Walsh got an acrobatic connection on to the ball before the excellent save by the visitor’s shot stopper.

Wexford were through again in the 43^rd minute when Jack Doherty took on Brouder, he lost the ball, but it fell into the path of Corcoran who nearly had the ball in the net for his 100^th League of Ireland gaol only for a great block by Diego Portilla.

Walsh went close again early in the second half when halftime substitute David Hurley played a lovely high ball from deep in the Wexford half. The striker nodded the ball toward goal, but he failed keep it down and it sailed over the bar.

Jack Doherty nearly doubled the visitors lead in the 56^th minute when he was played in from a great through ball. The midfielder really should have scored but his flicked effort was sent straight at Kearns who was able to stop the shot easily.

United were active at the other end of the field and they had the ball in the net on the hour mark for a great move started by Alex Murphy. He flicked the ball over the defence to Wilson Waweru who bundled the ball into the net but the flag was up for offside much to the dismay of the Tribesmen.

Murphy played a long ball in the last five minutes as United searched for an equaliser. The ball fell to Walsh but his volley on the run was far too tame to trouble Moody in the Wexford goal.

They earned that equaliser just two minutes from time thanks to some industrious play by their talisman of the 2022 season, Stephen Walsh.

The striker forced his way into possession on the edge of the box and he hooked a shot at goal with the ball nestling in the bottom corner of the goal.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; Killian Brouder, Alex Murphy, Conor O'Keeffe (Max Hemmings, 82), Diego Portilla; Gary Boylan (David Hurley, 46), Edward McCarthy (Manu Dimas, 66), Conor McCormack, Mikie Rowe (Ronan Manning, 82); Stephen Walsh, Wilson Waweru (Jordan Adeyemo, 72).

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Evan O'Connor, Charlie Lyons, Francely Lomboto.

Booked: David Hurley (90).

Wexford: Alex Moody; Paul Cleary, Aidan Friel (Lorcan Fitzgerald, 86), Joseph Manley, Len O'Sullivan; Conor Crowley (Jordan Tallon, 77), Jack Doherty (Conor Davis, 72), Harry Groome, Adam Wells; Dinny Corcoran, Aaron Dobbs.

Subs not used: Paul Hunt, Kevin McEvoy, Thomas Considine, Evan Farrell, Conor Barry.

Booked: Paul Cleary (90), Jordan Tallon (92).

Referee: Michael Connolly.

Attendance: 2,000 (estimate)

extratime.com Player of the Match: Stephen Walsh (Galway United)