28 SPORT
SIN Vol. 22 Issue 04
SSE Airtricity League Premier First Division Galway Utd ‘s promotion hopes crushed at UCD Bowl Galway United 1-2 Longford Town By Niamh McGee John Caulfield’s Galway United’s promotion dreams were shattered, as the Terryland outfit fell to a First Division play-off final defeat to Longford Town in the UCD Bowl on Friday 6th of November. The winner would advance to a promotion/relegation play-off against Shelbourne, with a tempting chance to play in the Premier Division next season. These teams last met in an entertaining tussle on October 3rd, with Galway taking a fantastic lead as the result finished Galway 6-2 Longford Town.
Galway have been on an incredible run of form since Caulfield took the reins midway through the season, while Longford finished two points ahead of the Tribesmen during the regular season. During this shortened season of 18 matches, both teams had netted the same number of goals. Thus, this was bound to be an interesting and tense match. From the opening minutes, Longford dominated the play, having a very close attempt on target struck by Aaron McNally in the 7th minute. The first serious chance was given to Longford in the 15th minute. Michael McDonnell played a clever ball into Dylan Grimes, who struck the ball from 35 yards. Grimes’ speculative effort swept past Galway ‘keeper Michael Schlingermann, only to deflect off the angle between crossbar and post, with nobody in the box for the rebound. As the second half approached, Longford continued to find open space, allowing easy passing among the midfielders. The deadlock was broken by Longford in the 43rd minute. Rob Manley worked the ball from out wide into McNally, whose strike took a deflection off the post, causing Schlingermann to fumble the ball through his hands. Schlingermann’s error give midfielder
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Karl Chambers a simple close tap-in to the back of the net, which he duly converted on the cusp of half-time. As the second half opened, Galway captain Shane Duggan was given a yellow card for a rough tackle on Karl Chambers, who had a complaint of a thigh injury earlier during the game. Things began to look briefly positive for Galway as the second half commenced, creating a chance in the 51st minute, when Mikey Place set up substitute Conor Barry, who kicked his 22-yard shot wide. Longford created the next opportunity on the 56th minute, when Manley weaved the ball past three Galway defenders before playing the ball across to McNally, whose strike went well over the Galway bar. As Galway struggled to up the tempo, midfielder Sam Warde had a pop from distance on 73 minutes that narrowly cleared the Longford crossbar. Longford then doubled the Galway deficit and seemed to seal their victory with a second goal in the 81st minute. Grimes played a pass through the legs of the Galway defence into the path of Aodh Dervin who from 30 yards struck the ball low and hard into the bottom left corner of the net. Dervin was awarded Man of the Match for this feat and his performance. Although the game seemed finished during these last remaining minutes, the ending was heart stopping. Galway got a goal back in the 88th minute when the Longford goalkeeper Steacy punched Duggan’s diagonal ball into the box, leaving an empty space for Galway substitute Vinny Faherty to head the ball into the net.
However, it was too little too late for John Caulfield’s side as the game ended after 94mins, Galway 1-2 Longford Town to send Galway back home empty-handed. Longford will now play Shelbourne with a win giving them a ticket to the Premier Division. Longford Town (3-4-2-1): Lee Steacy, Mick McDonnell, Joe Gorman, Joe Manley, Shane Elworthy, Dean Zambra, Aodh Dervin, Aaron McNally(Niall Barnes 86’), Dylan Grimes(Dylan Hand 86’), Karl Chambers(Matthew O’Brien 73’), Rob Manley. Galway Utd: (4-3-3): Michael Schlingermann, Jack Lynch, Maurice Nugent, Killian Brouder, Marc Ludden, Sam Warde(Vinny Faherty 88’), Timmy Molloy(Conor Barry HT), Shane Duggan, Mikey Plaice(Carlton Ubaezuonu 54’), Enda Curran(Wilson Waweru HT), Shane Doherty(Francely Lomboto 79’). Referee: Mark Moynihan.
Galway United secure new kit deal Oisín Bradley Sports Editor Irish sportswear giants O’Neills have signed a deal to supply kits to Galway United FC from 2021 onwards. The Tribesmen, who play home games at Eamonn Deacy Park, appointed John Caulfield as their new first-team manager earlier this year. Caulfield previously enjoyed a hugely successful spell managing Cork City and Galway United fans will be hoping he can revitalise their fortunes in a similar way as they aim to work their way back to the Premier Division. Caulfield has been a meteoric success since arriving in Terryland, and will be looking for a repeat of the last period in which the club donned Irish-owned brand O’Neills, a period in which they secured promotion from the league of Ireland First Division in 1992-93 before finishing the following season in third place. Cormac Farrell, Marketing Manager at O’Neills, said: “As Ireland’s largest sportswear manufacturer, we are excited to be involved with the new impetus in soccer in the western capital. Galway United are a highly professional club and under the guidance of a top-class League of Ireland manager, John Caulfield, as well as the backing of the Comer Group, we
are partnering with the club at an exciting phase of their development. “We look forward to further enhancing the club product offering with our innovative and industryleading playing and leisurewear. We wish Galway United every success in their pursuit of promotion to the Premier Division,” he added. Jonathan Corbett, who is the head of commercial activity at the club, expressed excitement about the new deal: “We are thrilled to be partnering with O’Neills who are without a doubt the most iconic Irish sports brand around. Their level of professionalism and experience is incomparable in the field of sports clothing and they’ve been a pleasure to deal with from the first point of contact. “While O’Neills may not have been traditionally a League of Ireland kit supplier, the work that they have done with a number of other clubs in the League has been fantastic, innovative and thoroughly unique. “We are excited about the designs and techniques O’Neills are going to showcase in the ranges which have been planned for the Galway United kit for the upcoming season. We are confident our supporters and players alike will love the quality and styling of the gear and look forward to a longstanding and fruitful relationship between Galway United FC and O’Neills.”
