Galway United Survive Gruelling Wexford Test Ahead of First Division Play-Offs
It was a tricky evening for 10-man Galway United, but three points secured.
Wexford gave John Caulfield plenty to think about ahead of the upcoming First Division playoffs as Galway United won 2–1 against the Leinster side.
Goals from Stephen Walsh and David Hurley earned United an early 2–0 lead.
But it was a nervy opening 45 minutes from the Tribesmen, who struggled to adapt to Wexford’s three at the back system. Wexford created chances through the middle and out wide.
Jack Moylan converted a Daniel Dobbin cross to make it 2–1 before half time. It was only for goalkeeper Conor Kearns that United retained that lead going into the break, following a series of Wexford chances.
United did create some chances of their own in the first half, but Wilson Waweru was unable to make clean contact from a Shane Doherty square ball, which Jimmy Corcoran easily held.
Waweru missed another chance on the stroke of half time, skying a turned shot from six yards out.
United averted an early scare to the start of the second half as Kearns somehow collected the ball after a short back pass from Nugent was intercepted by a Wexford forward.
It went from bad to worse for Nugent who was sent off for receiving a second yellow card on the 52nd minute for dragging down a Wexford attacker who was charging towards the goal from 35 yards out.
Hurley was the sacrificial lamb, as Joe Gorman replaced the Galway no. 10.
Despite being down to 10-men, Galway defended resolutely and did well to reduce Wexford to only one or two half-chances throughout the last half hour, much to Caulfield’s pleasure.
“With 10, we did defend very well, made some crucial blocks. Early in the second half they had one chance where we lost the ball. But I don’t think they really had [any clear cut chances in the last half hour] so that was pleasing,” said Caulfield after the game.
United sat back and soaked up the Wexford pressure, but Wilson still carved out yet another chance on the 57th minute but the ball curled wide from a tight angle.
The atmosphere at Eamonn Deacy Park was buoyant following the early lead, but as Wexford grew into the game, a few nerves started to creep in throughout the well attended crowd.
They were almost silenced when Jack Doherty went through on goal in the 77th minute, but his shot fizzed over the bar. It was a mix-up between United’s centre backs that allowed Doherty to get into such a great position, but the forward was unable to convert.
Caulfield immediately hooked Gary Boylan and Stephen Walsh following that chance. The United manager didn’t want to risk going down to nine men from another second yellow.
Gorman and Conor O’Keefe both put their bodies on the line very late on to protect Kearns’ goal. United struggled to get out of their own half in the dying stages. Caulfield took off both Waweru and Doherty, potentially with an eye on what’s to come in the next few weeks.
A huge clearance from Killian Brouder in the 95th minute meant that United weathered the storm. Wexford piled on the pressure in the last 15 minutes, but Caulfield’s side held on for a dramatic win at Terryland.
Attention now turns to Bray Wanderers, who visit Galway on Friday. Bray are potential playoff opponents for United, but Caulfield isn’t thinking that far ahead just yet as he plans to put out a strong side to secure second place in the league table.
“For us, I look at next week’s game, it’s another game you need to go out with your strongest team. I don’t believe you can take your foot off the pedal really,” he said.
“When you get a bit of momentum, and you start getting a few wins you need to try and keep that going. We need everyone fighting hard and so we’ll be working hard this week and certainly going all out next Friday.”
