Galway win to go joint top
Friday, 22 September 2006 23:05Galway United beat Monaghan United 2-0 at Terryland Park to win their fourth game on the spin, and now join Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk at the summit of the First Division table.
The homesters enjoyed a productive start and eventually opened the scoring in the 19th minute. Conor Gethins slid the ball into Davie O'Dowd's path and the busy frontrunner evaded Paul Whelan's tackle before unleashing a blistering shot to the roof of the Monaghan net.
Monaghan, however, responded impressively and fashioned a string of opportunities before the interval. Darren Sargent's header was cleared off the line by Raf Cretaro and Galway were similarly relieved on the cusp of half-time when Alan Keane hooked Austin McCann's effort away to safety.
Galway regained the initiative after the break with Frannie Carter and Mick O'Donnell bossing the midfield exchanges. Gethins floated in a left wing cross for Raf Cretaro after 53 minutes, but Paul Whelan blocked the latter's header with his hand. Billy Clery rifled the penalty confidently to the roof of the Monaghan net.
Galway could have added further goals in the dying minutes, particularly after the introduction of Alan Murphy, but it scarcely mattered as sufficient damage had been inflicted.
