LEAGUE OF IRELAND
Out-of-sorts Utd stumble to another narrow league loss
Tribesmen fail to hit the target again in away league defeat to Cabinteely
CABINTEELY FC………………………..1
GALWAY UNITED……………………….0
Daire Walsh
IN STRADBROOK
ROB Manley’s 17th-minute goal proved to be the difference last Friday night in Stradbrook where Galway United fell to their third consecutive 1-0 defeat in the SSE Airtricity League First Division.
After being edged out by Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United in previous encounters at Eamonn Deacy Park, Alan Murphy’s charges were hoping for better luck against a fired-up Cabinteely.
In the front of the watchful gaze of President of Ireland Michael D Higgins – a long-time supporter and member of the club – the Tribesmen certainly weren’t lacking endeavour.
They ultimately couldn’t halt the challenge of the south Dubliners, however, and remain second-from-bottom ahead of Limerick’s visit to the West on Friday evening. As they sought a return to winning ways, United lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.
Skipper Stephen Walsh was joined in defence by Maurice Nugent and Cian Murphy, with Conor Melody and Marc Ludden deployed in wing-back roles. Following an impressive run of form, Cabinteely were on the receiving end of a 2-1 reversal to Limerick six days earlier.
Eager to make amends, Pat Devlin’s hosts created a number of opportunities during the early exchanges. Conor Keeley was marginally off-target from a Keith Dalton free-kick on 13 minutes, before United netminder Andreas Werner denied Manley at the end of a subsequent attack.
The Cabinteely front man continued to prosper as the action progressed and he got his just rewards in the form of a breakthrough goal. After Dalton delivering a telling cross into the area, Manley headed home in clinical style.
This was an early set-back for United in the home of Blackrock College RFC, but they did find their feet (to an extent) moving into the second-quarter. Stephen McGuinness acrobatically tipped over a Wilson Waweru effort and Melody’s fierce drive narrowly cleared the woodwork just past the half-hour mark.
Nevertheless, Cabinteely maintained their potent threat in the final-third. A back-tracking Murphy halted Manley’s latest advance on 33 minutes and Werner brilliantly turned away a Vilius Labutis strike.
A single goal adrift on the restart, United looked to immediately increase the pressure on the Metropolitans. Melody nodded a corner straight into the hands of McGuinness while Waweru carved another chance via a neat one-two with Conor Barry.
Shy of the third-quarter mark, Ludden unleashed an inviting delivery into the area. It was met by the hard-working Nugent who flicked just wide of the mark.
In an effort to spark further life into their challenge, United introduced Donal Higgins for Mark Hannon in the 66th-minute. Waweru fired past the woodwork again off a Barry incision and he later made way for Jeff McGowan in the United attack.
The Westerners were wary that another Cabinteely would kill off the game as a contest. The experienced Kieran Marty Waters dovetailed effectively with Manley and Werner had to be on his toes to stop the former Bray Wanderers man.
Shane Doherty was added to the mix in the closing moments as Galway searched for a dramatic equaliser. Melody wasn’t far away at the end of a lung-bursting gallop, but Manley might well have grabbed a second it wasn’t for the dependable Werner.
United will now move forward into a packed April, when they will aim to get their league campaign back on track.
CABINTEELY: S McGuinness; J Tuite, J Hudson, C Keeley; K Dalton, V Labutis (L Clucas 92), A Aspil (E Massey 77), J Watson, S Hurley; KM Waters, R Manley.
GALWAY UNITED: A Werner; M Nugent (S Doherty 85), S Walsh, C Murphy; C Melody, I Gamarra, C Barry, M Hannon (D Higgins 66), M Ludden; V Faherty, W Waweru (J McGowan 72).
Referee: Alan Carey.