Soccer

Depleted Galway brush Derry aside at the Brandywell

Goals from Padraic Cunningham and Jake Keegan earn points for Tommy Dunne’s side

Galway United players celebrate Jake Keegan’s goal at the Bradywell against Derry City. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Presseye/Inpho
Galway United players celebrate Jake Keegan’s goal at the Bradywell against Derry City. Photograph: Lorcan Doherty/Presseye/Inpho
Fri May 08 2015 - 22:59

Derry City 0 Galway United 2

Derry City were booed off the Brandywell pitch last night as a severely under-strength Galway plundered the spoils.

Two goals in four first-half minutes proved to be Derry’s undoing as Tommy Dunne’s young side shocked the Foylesiders. Minus the services of nine first team players, Galway’s organisation and enthusiasm served them well.

Intimidated

While the home side started on the front foot, Galway refused to be intimidated and stunned the home side in the 22nd minute.

READ MORE

Goalkeeper Ger Doherty came to intercept Ryan Connolly’s corner and when he failed to clear the danger, Padraic Cunningham drilled the ball home from the edge of the penalty area.

Galway wasted no time in doubling their lead. Having won a free-kick, Jake Keegan made a superb run in behind the Derry defence to race onto Connolly’s delivery to head the ball firmly home.

In the 29th minute Galway went close to scoring a third, Connolly’s inswinging corner crashing off the Derry crossbar.

But it got worse for the home side when goalkeeper Doherty was forced off the field with a back injury in the 35th minute. His replacement, the youngster Shaun Patton, was then stretchered off in the second half of his league debut after he collided with Gary Shanahan.

DERRY CITY: Doherty (Patton 35 mins; Curran 73 mins), Kelly, McEleney, McBride, Barry, Daniels (Curtis 58 mins), McNamee, Lowry, Morrison, Elding, Morrison. GALWAY UTD: Gleeson, Raftery, Sinnot, Walsh, Horgan, Shanahan (O'Laoi 73 mins), O'Leary, Connolly, Keegan, Cunningham, Curran. Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).