What a win this is for Galway! It was a great performance and win from Galway in their 2-1 victory over St. Pats which makes it 4 points from 6 for The Tribesmen.
It was quite a balanced start to the game, with both sides having chances within the first 10 minutes but they resulted in nothing.
14 minutes in, Galway had their first big chance of the game, but Moses Dyer send the shot just wide, but, it didn’t really matter, as just three minutes later, American Patrick Hickey took a strike from 20 yards out, it took a HUGE deflection off Joe Redmond, which took it past Joespeh Anang and right into the onion bag.
Shortly after in the 25th minute, Hickey scored his third of the campaign and his second of the game! A lovely cross into the box by Jeannot Esua was met with the head of Patrick Hickey who put it away. Eamon Deacy Park erupted when this one went in, giving Caulfield’s a bit of breathing room against the supposed title favourites.
WHAT A GOAL!! Making it 3 goals in 12 minutes in the game, Aidan Keena scored a peach of a goal, controlling the ball, swiveling, and hitting one of the cleanest strikes you’re ever likely to see to claw Stephen Kenny’s Supersaints back into the game. Goal of the season contender just two weeks in.
At half time, Patrick Hickey’s brace saw Galway leading Pat’s by 2-1. Kenny decided on one change at the break, bringing 17 year old star Mason Melia on for Brandon Kavanagh.
Early into the second half, Galway could’ve had a third, but Rob Slevin’s header was met by the graceful grasp of Joeseph Anang. It was all Galway in the early second half, with another chance arriving for Galway through Cunningham this time, but it was sent over the bar.
Hickey almost completed his hattrick halfway through the second half, but he was denied by Joeseph Anang. What a performance from the Illinoisian! Gaillimh Aontaithe made two changes on the 70 minute mark, bringing Regan Donelon and Cian Byrne on for Moses Dyer and Bobby Burns, Pat’s decided on a change at the same time, bringing Zack Elbouzedi on for Simon Power.
With just 10 minutes to go, St Pat’s were so close to equalising, after some great play in the box, Jake Mulraney cut it back into the six yard box, with Mason Melia looking destined to put it away, but right back Esua just beat him to it to keep his side in the lead.
FULL TIME! Galway United hold on to make it 4 points from six with an excellent performance and win from John Caulfield’s men, in a week that has been so difficult for him, with the passing of his dear mother Nora, the condolences of everyone at LOI Talk remain with John and his family.
MOTM: Patrick Hickey
Galway will look foward to next week, where they will travel to United Park to face Drogheda, with both sides hoping to claim their second win of the season
St Pat’s will welcome Sligo Rovers to Inchicore, where both sides will look to put things right, with Pat’s having only claimed 1 point out of their two games, and Sligo losing both, sitting bottom of the league.