Galway United overcame Cork City 2-1 at Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to a late Conor McCormack winner.
Hosts Galway United arrived into the game on the back of four defeats on the bounce - their worst losing run since 2019 - while Cork City, under new manager Gerard Nash, came to Corribside in second-last place in the Premier Division table.
The opening opportunity of the encounter fell at the feet of Djenairo Daniels after a pinpoint through ball by Cathal O'Sullivan, but the Dutch native was unable to get a strike away. The City striker had a similar opening later on in the half and would have been disappointed not to test Evan Watts, who came into the starting United line-up in place of the injured Brendan Clarke.
The Leesiders also manufactured the first clear-cut chance in the first period, as their full-back, Milan Mbeng, did superbly to get in behind the home defence, only for the finish to flash just wide of Watts' goal.
The Tribesmen’s only real opportunity of the first 45 minutes came the way of striker Moses Dyer late in the half, but his low driven strike failed to hit the target, with City shot-stopper Tein Troost relieved to see the ball go past the post.As the half time whistle loomed, City would have been wondering how they didn’t go into the break in front. The sharp O’Sullivan took advantage of a bouncing ball behind the United backline and did well to get around Watts, but his stretched strike somehow didn’t hit the net with the goal glaring.
As the second half started, the game soon came to life.In the 48th minute, the lively Dyer picked the ball up in attack, drove at the City defence from the left, before his goalward cross took a deflection off Freddie Anderson and looped over Troost to give United the lead. That was the New Zealander attacker’s ninth goal of the league campaign.
A few minutes after the opener, in the 52nd minute, City were awarded a lifeline when the referee adjudged Jeannot Esua to have handled the ball in the area. Daniels stepped up to the penalty spot and sent Watts the wrong way to equalise the encounter.
From then on, valuable chances came the way of United’s Patrick Hickey and Greg Cunningham, but neither were able to find the net.United were eventually rewarded for the pressure in the 85th minute. After superb play by Esua and substitute Stephen Walsh, the latter set up fellow introducee Conor McCormack, who cannoned an effort home from close range to send the home faithful into euphoria.
The Tribesmen, who will be glad to break the losing duck, were able to see out the remainder of the contest to pick up a crucial three points.
Next up for Galway United is an away trip to face Shamrock Rovers, while Cork City welcome reigning Premier Division champions Shelbourne to Turner’s Cross.
Galway United: Watts; Byrne, Slevin, Cunningham, Dyer (Horgan 88); Hurley (Walsh 82), Hickey, Borden (McCormack 68), McCarthy, Buckley; Esua.
Cork City: Troost; Shipston (Maguire 46), Lyons, McLaughlin (Bolger 54), O’Sullivan; Murray, Crowley, Mbeng, Fitzpatrick, Anderson (Kiernan 58); Daniels.
Referee: Mark Houlihan
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