Late goals from Sammy Morrow and Niall McGinn decided an entertaining League Cup semi-final at Terryland Park as Derry City qualified for their fourth League Cup Final in a row.
The decisive strikes followed an earlier penalty save by Gary Rogers as Mark Farren failed to convert with his first touch.
Stephen Kenny amazingly made nine changes to his starting line-up from the side who lost narrowly to Shamrock Rovers last Friday, while Galway made two changes to their team as John Fitzgerald returned to the heart of the defence and Ciaran Foley came in for Derek Glynn.
Galway were spurred on by the memory of a harrowing recent 4-0 loss to The Candystripes in the league.
Jesper Jorgensen arrived in Galway on loan from Danish side Kolding FC last week and the striker had an immediate impact on his home debut. A burst of pace brought him past Eddie McCallion in the sixth minute before he was pole-axed by Derry ‘keeper Darren Quigley, but no penalty was forthcoming.
Derry struggled to get going but Ciaran Martyn did force Gary Rogers into action before Galway forced a succession of corners which almost brought reward when Fitzgerald volleyed narrowly over the bar. Quigley could only parry John Russell’s shot minutes before the break but Jorgensen couldn’t force in the rebound.
Sammy Morrow then had Derry’s best chance of the half when Kenna and Fitzgerald jumped for the same ball and left Morrow a clear run at goal. Again Rogers came to the rescue with a good save.
Morrow did have the ball in the net ten minutes after the break but was fractionally offside. John Lester then forced a great save from Quigley as Galway again forced a number of corners. After the drama of the two penalties, McGinn struck on the break with five minutes remaining to kill of the tie.
Galway United: Rogers; McCulloch, Kenna Molloy, 74), Fitzgerald, Conneely; Davoren, Lester, Russell (Glynn, 85), Foley, O’Shea; Jorgensen (McBrien, 85).
Derry City: Quigley; Hargan, Callaghan, McChrystal, McCallion; Morrison (Farren, 64), Martyn (McGinn, 36), Molloy, McGlynn; McHugh, Morrow (Higgins, 85).
Referee: Mark Gough.
