Galway United 1 UCD 2:TWO TEAMS saddled with relegation worries delivered a dashing encounter sprinkled with tidy football and interesting incidents at Terryland last night.
Timmy Purcell's 84th-minute goal might have been the decisive blow, but Galway, who played for a vast chunk of this tussle with only 10 men, deserve to be commended for their contribution.
UCD were brimful of determination early on and scored a second-minute goal courtesy of midfielder Brian King, who struck following Shane Fitzgerald's assist.
Galway were being troubled by UCD's pace on the break and the locals were livid 12 minutes in when John Lester was harshly dismissed for a challenge on Purcell.
Galway manager Jeff Kenna was forced to make a few minor alterations and the switches worked as Danish striker Jesper Jorgensen spearheaded the attack.
Parity was restored in the 61st minute when Alan Murphy's shot deflected over Matt Gregg.
The climax was cruel on Galway as Purcell's opportunistic strike ensured the students went back to the capital with three points.
GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Kenna, Lester, Fitzgerald, McCulloch; O'Shea, Russell (Foley 90), Murphy, Daveron (Glynn 84); Molloy (Conneely 15), Jorgensen.
UCD: Gregg; Mahon, McMillan, McNally, Kenna; McWalter, King, Duggan (Finn 73), Fitzgerald; Meenan, Purcell (Bolger 88).
Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).
