Galway United 3
Limerick 37 2

Galway United continued their winning ways in pre-season on Friday with a 3-2 win over First Division outfit Limerick 37 at Terryland Park, though the victory was somewhat more comfortable than the scoreline suggests.

ROCK SOLID . . . Galway United's Mark Leech who helped Tony Cousins' men continue their winning run in pre-season fixtures with a 3-2 victory over Limerick 37 on Friday night. Photo: Reg Gordon.

United started the brighter and as early as the sixth minute had the lead as John Russell's perfectly weighted through ball set Derek Glynn through on goal and his perseverance saw him score at the third attempt.

The lead didn't last long and on 12 minutes Limerick 37 were level after John Fitzgerald's short backpass allowed Wayne Colbert to pounce, finishing to an empty net after Alvin Rouse blocked his initial effort.

With Limerick playing a five-man midfield United often sought to bypass the midfield congestion with long balls over the top to ever-willing runner Glynn.

Russell posed a constant attacking threat from the right and soon restored United's lead. His deflected cross met some indecisive defending encouraging Russell to follow in and fire home, low to the goalkeeper's right.

The second half brought a host of changes in personnel and moments before the hour mark came the first of two contentious penalty decisions from referee Mark Gough.

United stopper Rouse appeared to win the ball cleanly from Willie Bruton but Gough rewarded Bruton's acrobatics with a penalty which Wayne Colbert duly dispatched to equalise.

Galway responded to fashion a rare second half effort as Shane Tracy's left wing cross found O'Flynn unmarked but his glancing header clipped the foot of the post and went wide.

In the dying embers of a rather tepid contest referee Gough restored the balance awarding a dubious spot kick to the home side with just minutes remaining.

The slightest of contact from full back Bobby Gregg tumbled Vinny Faherty with Stephen O'Flynn slotting home the winner from the spot.

United take on Ipswich Town today as part of their week-long training camp in Suffolk and will play Longford away next week in their final pre-season encounter ahead of the league opener against Bohs in Terryland on March 7.

Galway United: Rouse, Walsh (Connelly, 59), McCulloch (Charles,45), Nootimeer (Foley,45) , Fitzgerald (c), Lester, Deegan (Keane, 59), Glynn (O'Flynn, 45), Leech (Faherty, 59), Russell (Robson,59), O'Shea (Tracy, 45).

Limerick 37: Ryan, Gregg, Fogorthy, Hughes, Donaher, J. Grant (D. Ryan, 52), S. Grant, Colbert, Harrington, Cosgrove, Bruton (Quinlan, 62)

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