Galway United defeated Drogheda United 3-0 in Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to a Stephen Walsh double and an injury-time goal by Conor O'Keeffe.
On a cloudy and breezy evening on Corrib side, the hosts got back to winning ways in the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division by putting in an efficient performance against Drogheda.
This was the first time the Tribesmen hosted a Thursday game since 2011 - as it happens, that fixture was also against tonight’s visitors.
In their last encounter this season, the two teams played out a dramatic five-goal frenzy when they met in May, with Galway coming out on top (2-3) thanks to two injury-time goals.
On this occasion, the Tribesmen, who had been defeated in their previous two outings, got off to an ideal start in front of their home supporters.
Following an inch-perfect delivery from Karl O’Sullivan on the right wing in the sixth minute, Stephen Walsh generated enough power from a headed effort to beat Andrew Wogan in net to put the home side in front.
📹 | Stephen Walsh heads home for Galway!
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) June 13, 2024
GAL 1-0 DRO#LOITV | #GALDRO pic.twitter.com/korHb8uB4o
That early goal didn’t dampen Drogheda’s hopes as they tried to manufacture opportunities throughout the first period.
Free-kick specialist Evan Weir had tested Brendan Clarke with a dipping free-kick early on while Luke Heeney made the experienced shot-stopper work to gather a long-range strike.
Clear-cut chances were few and far between but Galway goalscorer Walsh did look lively up front - causing problems for the opposition backline with his presence and work rate.
Not long before the break, Walsh demonstrated neat footwork to cut inside and loop the ball towards the back post which Wogan managed to claw away at the second attempt with O’Sullivan ready to pounce.
The second half continued in the same vein as Drogheda, who were winless in their previous six fixtures coming into tonight’s game, were unable to truly test John Caulfield’s team.
A second goal was always going to be crucial in determining the outcome of the result and it was the home side who nicked the next.
In the 61st minute, Walsh became the club’s joint third all-time scorer when he was quickest to react to a rebound in the box to slot the ball into an empty net and give the Tribesman the two-goal cushion.
Galway remained unharmed before the final whistle and they would finish the game on the front foot when substitute Conor O’Keeffe slalomed through the Drogheda defence and found the bottom corner in the 93rd minute.
Up next for Galway United is an away trip to Shelbourne after the week’s break while Drogheda take on Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on the same night.
Galway United: Clarke; Brouder, Nugent, Walsh (Fitzgerald 90), Hurley (Gaxha 90); O’Sullivan (Lomboto 85), McCormack, McCarthy (O’Keeffe 85), Buckley (Hickey 66), Kazeem; Esua.
Drogheda United: Wogan; Weir, Quinn (Davis 45), Keaney, Markey; Foley (Cailloce 60), O’Brien (Webster 75), Bawa (Pierrot 23), Brennan, Heeney; Kane.
Referee: Neil Doyle.
Watch every game from Euro 2024 on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player as well as highlights and goals as they happen on RTÉ Sport digital platforms
Listen to the RTÉ Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
