Bray Wanderers 1 Galway United 9
Sometimes, in football – it doesn’t go your way.
Not the score-line we hoped for as Galway advanced to the final of the U19 Enda McGuill Cup.
Leading 4-0 at the interval, United scored four more goals in an eight-minute spell just after the interval to secure the victory at a sunny Carlisle Grounds on Sunday afternoon.
The two teams had met last February in League action at Ballycorus with the Tribesmen coming out on top 2-0.
But this meeting was virtually decided by one incident in just the third minute.
The home side played a quick free kick outside their own box wide right. It was passed inside to skipper Ben Clarke who stumbled.
Galway striker Gavin Smyth nipped in but was tugged back by Clarke with custodian Jamie Molloy made a block save at the expense of a corner.
However, referee Paul Norton awarded a penalty and brandished a red card to Clarke.
Michael McCullagh converted the spot-kick although Molloy got a touch on it’s way to the net.
The extra man advantage left room across the pitch which the visitors exploited.
Smyth made it 2-0 in the 18th minute. His initial shot in the ‘D was blocked. But he buried the rebound in low to the bottom left hand corner.
The away outfit notched a third in the 29th minute. Steven Healy kept the ball in play off the right wing and Gradi Lomboto squared off the endline for Smyth to slot in.
Lomboto added a fourth in the last minute of the period when beating the offside to slide the ball past Molloy after being played in by Gerard O’Riordan.
Galway powered their way into the second period.
Skipper Adam O’Halloran registered the fifth on 51 when McCullagh linked with Healy.
Three minutes later, O’Halloran burst onto a quick free. Molloy made the save but Conor Keady volleyed in the rebound.
Substitute David Tarmey got in on the act on 57. He showed strength to go past two opponents and score with a low ten-yard finish.
Tarmey drilled on low in the 61st minute for the eight after good work by defender Aaron Neary.
The full-back claimed another assist on 71 when sub Brian Cunningham scored with a looping header.
There was a consolation for Wanderers in the 87th minute.
Molloy’s quick roll out saw Jack Kehoe play a ball over the top from his own half. Daniel Chukwu out-paced two United players to lift the ball beyond the on-rushing Kieran McDonagh to an open goal from 20-yards.
In the other Semi Final on Sunday, Shamrock Rovers beat Shelbourne 4-1 at the AUL Complex in Dublin.
Bray Wanderers: Jamie Molloy; Alain Kizenga, Callum Goad, Leon Ajala, Joshua Kerr; Jack Kehoe, Ben Clarke, Daniel Chukwu, Thomas Morgan, Roland Olakanye; Lewis Jacobs.
Subs: Alex Nolan, Luca Mulhare, Harry Sherlock, Brent Culbert, Caleb O’Neill, Max Hennessy, Paddy Kildee-Doolan, Dylan Ryan, Alexander Kearney.
Galway United: Kieran McDonagh; Aaron Neary, Conor Keady, Liam Murray, Milo O’Malley; Adam O’Halloran, Steven Healy, Gerard O’Riordan, Michael McCullagh; Gradi Lomboto, Gavin Smyth.
Subs: Kelende Abdine Jr Thiam, David Tarmey, Churchill Idemudia, Billy Regan, Ryan Mill, Josep Planella O’Keeffe, Mark O’Halloran, Brian Cunningham, Jason Daly.
Referee: Paul Norton. Assistants: Darragh White, Wayne McDonnell.
Pictures: Dermot O’Brien.
* Bray return to U19 LOI Academy League Tier 2 (North) action next Sunday (October 8) when they travel to take on Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
