David Hurley scored a cracking brace as Galway United returned to the UCD Bowl to comfortably book their place in tomorrow's draw for the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup.
John Caulfield’s side, all but set to replace UCD in the Premier Division next season, had led 2-0 at half-time on Friday night when this second round clash was abandoned due to heavy rain.
The runaway First Division leaders came back and all but won it when running up a 4-0 lead by the break to reverse going out of the cup to the Students at the same stage last year.
Both sides lined up as they did on Friday, and, as then, it was Galway who started the better, taking the lead on five minutes.
UCD goalkeeper Kian Moore’s free kick dropped for Ronan Manning whose sublime first time pass saw bustling striker Wassim Aouachria spin off UCD skipper Jack Keaney to run through and score with a deft dink over Moore.
The UCD defending was negligent again as Galway extended their lead on 16 minutes.
Keaney was yellow carded for hauling back Stephen Walsh to concede a free kick some 25 yard out.
Manning rolled the dead ball for Hurley to smash it low through the breaking wall and beat Moore down at his left-hand post.
UCD worked hard to play their way into the game, Dara Keane flicking wide from a promising move involving Brendan Barr and Michael Gallagher.
But any notions of a comeback were soon scuppered as Galway went straight down the other end to add a third goal 37 minutes.
Ed McCarthy won a free kick and once more Manning rolled the ball to Hurley who this time rifled a drive to the roof of Moore’s net for his 18th goal of the season.
The tie was then over in the first minute of stoppage at the end of the half.
A Manning free kick from the left wasn’t cleared with Rob Slevin and Evan O’Connor getting touches before Manning arrived into the area to calmly side foot home off his left foot.
Substitute Rob Manley scored with his first touch when heading home Galway’s fifth goal from Hurley’s 69th minute corner.
UCD’s consolation arrived from an Oisin O’Reilly own goal three minutes from time.
A trifle annoying for goalkeeper Brendan Clarke who had had precious little to do on what was the 500th senior appearance in a 20-year career.
UCD: Kian Moore; Michael Gallagher, Jack Keaney, Evan Osam (Jesse Dempsey 68); Brendan Barr (Ciaran Behan 54), Dara Keane, Adam Verdon (Donal Higgins 54), Adam Wells; Sean Brennan; Danny Norris (Jake Doyel 68), Danu Kinsella-Bishop (Mikey Raggett, 70).
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Evan O’Connor, Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Regan Donelon (Oisin O’Reilly, h-t); David Hurley, Vince Borden (Maurice Nugent 67); Ed McCarthy (Francely Lomboto 75), Stephen Walsh (Aodh Dervin 75), Ronan Manning; Wassim Aouachria (Rob Manley 67).
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
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