Galway United's Derek O'Brien in action during Fridays game against Athone Town. Photo: Reg Gordon

Galway United 3
Athlone Town 2

Three goals in five sparkling second-half minutes were enough to ensure that Galway United's preparations for the 2008 eircom League of Ireland campaign began with a win in an entertaining clash with neighbours Athlone Town in Terryland Park on Friday evening.

With club captain Wes Charles away on international duty, John Fitzgerald deputised as skipper and it was he who first tested the Athlone keeper with a swivelling strike from Marc McCulloch's in-swinging corner.

But after a period of sustained pressure, it was the visitors who were rewarded with a goal in the 12th minute. Former United man Phillip O'Reilly got the slightest of touches on a right-wing free kick to take it past Gary Rogers in the United goal.

The goal jolted United into action and a curling 22 yard free kick from McCulloch almost brought an equaliser.

New signings Mark Leech and Jay O'Shea then combined well to open space for O'Shea down the right, and his jinking run deserved better than a miscued strike wide.

United were level four minutes into the second half when Gary Deegan's pass allowed Mark Leech space to stab an exquisite chip over the advancing Egan from the edge of the area.

Just three minutes later, Daryl Robson's ball over the top released Derek O'Brien who calmly walked the ball around the goalkeeper for the lead goal.

The home side were flying now and just sixty seconds later O'Shea finished off the best move of the game after Robson and Leech had combined.

With both sides making seven changes in the last half hour, the game fizzled out as a contest, but John Lester gave Athlone hope when he deflected into his own goal with a header on 72 minutes.

But United held firm and Tony Cousins will reflect on a sound team performance and, importantly, a clean bill of health on the injury front.

Galway United: Rogers, Nootimeer, McCulloch (Tracy, 63), Hamilton (Lester, 48), Fitzgerald (c) (Connelly, 55), Robson (Russell,59), Deegan (Foley, 59), Leech (O'Flynn, 59), Faherty (Glynn, 59), O'Shea, O'Brien (McBrien, 63).

Athlone Town: Egan (Gaffey, 56), Rossiter, Hamm (Fallon, 75), Keady (O'Shea, 55), Sheridan (Moran, 29 mins), Jinks (Dowling, 45), Scullion, O'Reilly, Levine (Curry, 75), O'Dowd, McCarthy (Hayes, 55).

Comments (1) »

oh baidin
written by dochious, February 15, 2008

at a boy baidin

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