AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Galway Utd 1 Derry City 4:AT THIS early stage of the season all that truly matters is acquiring points and Derry City maintained their satisfying start to what promises to be an interesting season for them at Terryland Park.
Derry have earned plaudits for their stylish return to the top flight which has been decorated with decent results and their football was of a remarkably high quality throughout an entertaining game. There was no disguising Galway’s passion, but it was the poise of the visitors that impressed.
Patrick McEleney craved involvement in attack alongside the willing Eamon Zayed as Derry carved several opportunities early on as they sought to move the ball wide at every opportunity. Having survived two hopeful long-range Galwegian attempts from Bobby Ryan and Seán Kelly, the Candystripes bossed the first half.
In the 12th minute left full Daniel Lafferty crossed for Zayed, who timed his run expertly, but Fleming was equal to it.
Derry continued to probe down the flanks and a James McClean cross on 15 was met by a cute Gareth McGlynn flick, but the ball trickled inches wide.
There was a real crispness to Derry’s play as the governed the game against a depleted Galway, who don’t have the depth to cope with the injury enforced absences of Gary Curran, Alan Murphy, and Joseph Yoffe.
McClean clipped a gorgeous 35th minute free kick into a packed area, but Kevin Deery just failed to apply a finishing touch.
Eventually Derry rattled the Galway net a minute shy of the interval thanks to Zayed’s opportunism.
Rocked by the concession Galway were in deep bother seconds after the restart as Deery released the industrious McClean, who rifled the visitors further ahead.
Ryan injected Galway’s challenge with a drop of optimism with a 49th minute goal, but Derry’s response was brisk. McClean’s sparkling 55th minute strike was followed by a Gareth McGlynn header on 64.
GALWAY UTD: Fleming; Shaun Kelly, Sinnott, Maher, Walsh; Cash (Keogh, 70 mins), Eduardo, Sean Kelly, Ryan; Moore; Feeney (Curran, 60 mins).
DERRY CITY: Doherty; McCallion, S McEleney, Greacen, Lafferty; McGlynn, Deery, Higgins, McClean (McLaughlin, 78 mins); P McEleney (McCrudden, 84 mins), Zayed (McDaid, 90 mins).
Referee: N Doyle(Dublin).
