Aaron Bolger scored twice against his former club as Galway United came from 2-0 down to earn a 2-2 draw with St Pat’s.
The game started on high heat, as Matty Wolfe was shown a yellow card for a feisty challenge on Kian Leavy in midfield. Pats started the game the better of the two sides, forcing Galway full backs Al-Amin Kazeem and Conor Barratt into early defensive work. Leavy almost found the opener for Stephen Kenney’s Inchicore outfit as he found the back of the net, but was deemed offside by the linesman. The deadlock was broken shortly after Leavy’s effort, as Zach Elbouzedi played a ball from the edge of the box to Edmondson, and he made no mistake in finishing into the back of the net, and cemented himself as the league’s top scorer. Pats soon nearly grabbed a second as James Brown found himself in space in the box, but his effort was thwarted by Gianfranco Facchineri, who made an impeccable sliding block.
Momentum soon shifted as John Caulfield instructed his side to press onto their opposition. Canadian Kris Twardek almost found himself through for what seemed like a sure goal, but was dispossessed by St Pats. Galway had shouts for a penalty after 32 minutes. Galway fans and players protested that Tom Grivosti had handled the ball in the box, but referee Rob Hennessey waved for play on. Galway cranked up the heat, as Wolfe made a darting run into the box, but was dispossessed, only for the ball to fall into the box again but was cleared by the Dublin outfit. Despite Galway’s best efforts, the Pats defence seemed impenetrable, after Jamie Lennon cleared a Kazeem cross.
The second yellow card of the game went the way of Pat’s ‘keeper Joe Anang, as he was done for timewasting over a free kick and not taking it from the correct place. Galway made one last final push in the first half consisting of two waves. Phase one of the attack saw a dangerous ball whipped in by David Hurley onto the head of Wolfe, but his header deflected off of Walsh and was cleared away. The final trick from Galway’s first half effort started at the feet of Twardek, as he played Walsh through. A chain of passes by Galway was soon cleared away, but only as far as Hurley, who’s shot wasn’t far off being the leveller. Despite Galway’s best intentions to level the game, it was the visitors who entered the tunnel 1-0 to the good.
Galway maintained their form after half time, opening the half with the tenacious intensity they closed the first half with. Against the run of play however, goalscorer Edmondson nodded a ball onto Elbouzedi and he provided the touch to set up Chris Forrester in the box, who smashed the ball home, making it two nil after 53 minutes.
Disregarding the slip up defensively, Galway continued to put Pats under pressure. The home side almost found a goal through Twardek, who’s shot inside the box was right and wide of the target. Hurley soon provided a dangerous ball into the heart of the Pats defence which was cleared for a corner. Hurley took this corner short and gave it to substitute Axel Piesold. Piesold floated a ball into the box, which was tipped off Walsh’s head and volleyed home by Aaron Bolger into the top right corner on 61 minutes giving Galway a fighting chance.
Galway relentlessly hunted for their equaliser, but the only thing stopping them was goalie Anang, who gave Galway very little to work with. Every cross swung in after Bolger’s goal was claimed by Anang with ease, and time was of the essence for Galway. Disaster nearly struck for Pats, as a Piesold cross found Bolger unmarked in the box, but his effort was superbly denied by the diving save from Anang, and it looked certain that Pats would hold on. That was not the case however, as Piesold collected a ball 30 yards out and played it to Bolger on the edge of the box. With little time to go, Bolger released a missile past Anang in the Pats goal and fired home the equaliser into the bottom left from 20 yards.
Pats had one final chance from Brown, but his effort flew over the catch net, and the full-time whistle blew, leaving the sides to split the spoils at 2-2 apiece. Elation for Galway who secured a crucial point at home in regards to the table and their confidence ahead of Derry City away on Monday, and current league leaders Shamrock Rovers in Eamon Deacy Park on Friday. Stephen Kenny and his Saints will return to Inchicore frustrated tonight, and will have to rectify issues ahead of their games against Sligo and Waterford.
Man of the Match
It could only be Aaron Bolger after his second half heroics to win MOTM on Friday night. His two stunning efforts combined with his defensive work, and role in Galway’s transition was crucial in leading Galway to a 2-2 draw at home.
LineUps
Galway United: E Watts, C. Barratt, A. Kazeem (A Piesold 64’), K Brouder, G Facchineri, A Bolger, M Wolfe (F Lomboto 62’), D Hurley (c), K Twardek (W Williams 64’), E McCarthy, S Walsh (F Pierrot 64’).
St Pat’s: J Anang, J Brown, L Turner, J Redmond (c), T Grivosti, J Lennon, B Crowe Baggley, K Leavy (J McClelland 90’), Z Elbouzedi (A Breslin 70’), C Forrester (D Nugent 69’), R Edmonson (M Mata 75’).
Referee: Rob Hennessy.