Backed by a huge travelling support, Galway United retained their Premier Division status following a 1-0 victory over already-relegated UCD at Belfield Bowl writes Mark Cummins.
John Fitzgerald netted the vital goal on 36 minutes. He met a corner from the right and fired past UCD keeper Matt Gregg with his strike taking the very faintest of touches off defender Alan McNally as it went goalbound.
With Finn Harps beating Shamrock Rovers, Galway had to win, and they did that against a very dogged UCD who are now joined by Harps and Cobh Ramblers in the First Division in 2009.
UCD played with the advantage of a strong wind from the Clonskeagh end behind their backs for the first half, but both sides saw plenty of the ball in the early stages.
Jay O’Shea had a shot for Galway on five minutes from the right, but Gregg made a clean save, while Shane Fitzgerald had a pop at the Galway goal on seven minutes, but he dragged his shot across the goalmouth and wide.
UCD were forced to make a change on 18 minutes when Brian Shorthall went off injured following a collision involving Galway’s Jay O’Shea on the far touchline.
Evan McMillan, who had played well against St Pat’s last week but lost his place tonight, replaced him.
Pat McWalter had a chance to open the scoring for UCD on 28 minutes when well-placed on the left of the box, but he blasted his shot wide.
His missed chance was made worse by the fact that some of his team mates were available in the box.
Galway finally made the breakthrough on 36 minutes. Fitzgerald met a corner from the right and fired it toward goal, the ball taking the faintest of touches off defender Alan McNally as it passed Gregg.
Galway finished the first half better, and started the second in flying form; on 55 minutes John Lester got the better of Conor Kenna on the UCD byline outside the box and struck a smashing shot/cross into the danger area.
Gregg dashed out of his goal and made a diving save. Lester then had a 35-yard free kick on the hour mark, but hammered his strike high and wide over the crossbar at the Montrose end. He was then yellow-carded on 63 minutes for arguing with the officials.
O’Shea had a glorious chance to double Galway’s advantage on 79 minutes when he collected the ball deep on the right of the box and unleashed a powerful drive but his sat-nav was off-kilter and his effort rocketed wide of the target.
UCD: Gregg, McNally, Shorthall (McMillan 18), Mahon, Kenna, McFaul (King 83), Duggan (Meenan 64), S Fitzgerald, Finn, McWalter, Bermingham.
Galway United: Rogers, J Fitzgerald, Lester, J Keane (Russell 76), McCulloch, Connelly, A Keane, Foley (Davoren 65), O’Shea, Faherty, Murphy (Jorgensen 83)
Referee: T Connolly.
