An end to end thriller in Eamon Deacy Park sees Galway United edge out Waterford. United’s Kris Twardek bagged two goals and scooped up Man of the match, after a crucial tie against bottom of the table Waterford.
Galway United 4
Waterford FC 2
An end to end thriller in Eamon Deacy Park sees Galway United edge out Waterford. United’s Kris Twardek bagged two goals and scooped up Man of the match, after a crucial tie against bottom of the table Waterford.
Galway started quickly, with Twardek causing headaches for Jon Daly’s side, winning corners and putting dangerous crossed into the box. Galway United soon broke the deadlock on ten minutes, as Twardek found himself on the end of a David cross field ball, and cooly slotted it in the back of the net to give Galway the lead.
Waterford responded well, with Trae Cann and Padraig Amond combining to earn a corner. Conan Noonan saw his shot on the edge of the box blocked by Bolger, and an Amond header was blocked by Galway’s Killian Brouder for another corner.
Waterford shortly after equalised on 35 minutes, as Luke Heeney’s cross saw Gianfranco Facchineri head the ball into his own bottom left corner, putting the visitors level.
Waterford shortly scored again a minute later, as Jorgen Volias played Waterford captain Amond through, who powered a half volley past Evan Watts in the Galway goal, and giving the visitors a 1-2 lead in the span of a minute.
On the brink of half time, Brouder utilised his long throw, which saw Bolger claim the ball in the Waterford penalty area. In efforts to win the ball, Sam Glenfield thwarted Bolger illegally, and referee Kevin O’Sullivan awarded a penalty to the Tribesmen. It was Hurley to step up to the spot and smash the ball home into the top left corner past McMullan, and drawing the sides level at two a piece at half time.
The start of the second half saw Galway carry their momentum over from the first half. A Matty Wolfe cross found Hurley in the box, and was nearly into finished away by Twardek into the bottom left, who grabbed his second of the night, giving John Caulfield’s side the advantage once again.
Controversy struck in the 63rd minute, as substitute Frantz Perriot was booked for a challenge on Waterford’s Glenfield. Things quickly escalated as Galway’s Ed McCarthy was issued a yellow card for dissent, and John Caulfield was shown red, after comments to the fourth official, and was sent to the stands.
Both sides unloaded their benches towards the end of the third quarter of the game, with Coyle and Voilas being replaced by Tommy Lonergan and Conor Carty, and Conor Barrett, Wasiri Williams and Francley Lomboto coming on in place of Bolger, Wolfe and Arthur Parker.
Photo taken by Cian Kelly
Galway keep the push on for a fourth goal, which finally came in the 84th minute, after Lomboto slipped past Glenfield in the box and finding Perriot, who made no mistake and grabbed his first goal in a Galway jersey.
Like the first half, a late penalty was awarded to Waterford, after Williams dragged down Benny Couto in the box. Substitute Tommy Lonergan made no mistake with the penalty, smashing it into the top left hand corner, giving the visitors one final chance.
Despite Waterford’s best efforts, they couldn’t draw the game level and as Kevin O’Sullivan blew for full time, it was Galway who ran out 4-3 victors . Galway now see themselves ahead of Drogheda United on goal difference, with a tough challenge against reigning champions Shamrock Rovers in the capital.
For Waterford it’s two points from 7 games, and serious questions ahead of their next game against St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday.
Full time in Eamon Deacy Park, Galway 4-3 Waterford.
Man of the match
Kris Twardek not only was fully deserving of the award after his two goals, but of the attacking threat he caused down the right wing, causing constant trouble to the Waterford defense.
Line Ups
Galway (4-5-1): Evan Watts, Arthur Parker, Gianfranco Facchineri, Killian Brouder, Lee Devitt, Jimmy Keohane, Aaron Bolger, David Hurley, Matty Wolfe, Kris Twardek, Stephen Walsh.
Substitutes: Ed McCarthy for Jimmy Keohane (HT), Frantz Perriot for Stephen Walsh (53), Conor Barrett for Matty Wolfe (68), Wasiri Williams for Arthur Parker (77), Francely Lomboto for Aaron Bolger (77).
Waterford (4-5-1): Stephen McMullan, Benny Couto, Hayden Cann, Ronan Mansfield, Alan Zborowski, Trae Coyle, Luke Heeney, Sam Glenfield, Conan Noonan, Jorgen Voilas, Padraig Amond.
Substitutes: Tommy Lonergan for Trae Coyle (68), Conor Carty for Jorgen Voilas (68), Dean McMenamy for Luke Heeney (76).