League Report: Galway United 1 - 0 Waterford

Paul Corcoran reports from Eamonn Deacy Park

Galway United secured a vital win on Friday night as they ran out 1-0 winners over Waterford at Eamonn Deacy Park.

It was Killian Brouder who scored the goal for the home side to give them their first win in three.

The win keeps them four points behind Cork City at the top of the table, with the Rebels securing victory over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds on Friday.

For the Blues, this will be a massive sucker punch as the loss ends their winning streak at eight and puts them further back in the race for the First Division title.

John Caulfield made three changes to his side after their disappointing 2-0 loss to Longford Town on Monday night, Gary Boylan, Diego Portilla and Wilson Waweru all dropped to the bench with Stephen Walsh, Charlie Lyons and Francely Lomboto all making the first eleven.

Waterford boss Danny Searle made just the one change to the Blues after their win over Athlone Town on Monday – that change was forced as loanee Louis Britton left the club during the week and signed for Cork City after his contract with Bristol City expired, Cian Kavanagh came into the side in place of the striker.

Lomboto was inches away from putting the home side in front in the opening five minutes when he turned quickly on a Stephen Walsh header outside the box, he took the ball forward before placing a good shot on goal, but it sailed just wide.

The Tribesmen went close again in the eighth minute from a floated David Hurley cross, Stephen Walsh rose in the box to meet it, but the ball was just a fraction too high for the in-form striker and his header went just clear of the post.

The Blues began to go on the attack with just over ten minutes gone, Roland Idowu fired off a long-range effort when he found himself in acres of space outside the box, but he failed to find the target, Phoenix Patterson showed some great skill on the left minutes later before drilling a cross, but Cian Kavanagh arrived just a fraction of a second too late to turn the ball in.

Idowu went on a mazy solo run in the 26^th minute and left a few Galway players in his wake, he took aim from the edge of the box and sent a blistering shot at goal, Conor Kearns was quick across goal, but the goalkeeper was at full stretch to deny the midfielder.

Patterson had a chance of his own ten minutes before the half time break when he was played in on the left side of the box. Again, the midfielder showed off some good skill, but Galway’s Conor O’Keeffe didn’t bite, and he was forced to rattle off a quick shot with Kearns making another save.

The Waterford shot stopper pulled off a spectacular save in the 57^th minute to deny Manu Dimas, the Spaniard struck the ball from the edge of the box and if not for Murphy’ fingertips the ball would have rattled the back of the net.

The resulting corner-kick resulted in disaster for the visitors however, Hurley floated the ball into the box and Brouder rose highest to power the ball into the goal with his head to give the Tribesmen the lead.

Richard Taylor nearly set up the visitors to draw level in the 64^th minute when he sent a good ball into the box from the left flank, Kavanagh got on the end of it with his head, but the striker’s off-balance header couldn’t do enough to trouble Kearns.

Tunmise Sobowale fancied his chances from 30 yards in the 69^th minute, the shot didn’t necessarily look on for the defender, but it was still of such quality that Kearns had to dive across his goal to deny the visitors with a great save.

The Blues had a penalty shout in the 72^nd minute, a period of extended pressure on the Galway goal saw Eddie Nolan get a flicked header at close range, only for Brouder to stop the ball on the line. Waterford’s captain was incensed as he appeared to gesture to referee Paul Norton that the Galway defender had stopped the ball with his hand.

Second half substitute Gary Boylan went on a powerful run from the centre of the field in the 77^th minute managing to leave several Waterford players in his wake. His last touch took the ball out wide with the midfielder opting to take a shot on, but Murphy was able to deny the Tribesmen again.

Waterford pushed for an equaliser late in the game with Junior Quitirna firing over in injury time, the visitors couldn’t find that final ball however and the Blues end Friday night eleven points off the top of the First Division table.

Galway United: Conor Kearns; Conor O'Keeffe, Alex Murphy, Charlie Lyons, Killian Brouder (Diego Portilla, 77); Conor McCormack (c), Edward McCarthy, David Hurley; Stephen Walsh, Francely Lomboto (Wilson Waweru, 83), Manu Dimas (Gary Boylan, 66).

Subs not used: Matthew Connor, Oisin O'Reilly, Evan O'Connor, David Tarmey, Mikie Rowe, Shane Doherty.
Booked: Conor McCormack (81), Stephen Walsh (95).

Waterford: Brian Murphy; Killian Cantwell, Junior Quitirna, Richard Taylor; Yassine En-Neyah (Niall O'Keeffe, 66), Shane Griffin, Roland Idowu, Eddie Nolan; Cian Kavanagh (Nigel Aris, 90), Phoenix Patterson, Ronaldo Romario Green.

Subs not used: Paul Martin, Jeremie Milambo, Darragh Power, George Forrest, Liam Kervick, Dean Larkin , Callum Stringer.

Booked: Killian Cantwell (60), Shane Griffin (73), Tunmise Sobowale (95), John Caulfield (95).

Referee: Paul Norton.

Attendance: 1,200 (estimate)

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