Galway close on leaders

GALWAY UNITED made up ground on the early leaders in the First Division with a solitary Fergal Coleman goal enough to beat St Francis at Terryland Park on Saturday night. Coleman's excellent strike arrived on 53 minutes when he ran clear onto Sean O'Neill's flick to outpace the St Francis defence and finish well.

Galway dominated the remainder of the game and but for goalkeeper Gary Matthews, who made fine saves from Coleman, Mark Herrick and Aidan Forde St Francis would have been beaten by far more.

Drogheda stay top but continue to struggle at home, as evidenced by their 0-0 draw with Cobh Ramblers at United Park. In a generally uninspiring game, Drogheda squandered the only real chance of the game after 59 minutes when David Nugent's cross picked out the unmarked Brian Honan, but he miskicked in front of goal.

Kilkenny City played out their fifth successive draw as they struggled to break down unbeaten Longford Town at Buckley Park.

Longford took a 22nd minute lead through the division's top scorer, Damien Dunleavy, who knocked home the rebound after Kilkenny goalkeeper Ashley Stephenson could only parry a shot from Seanie McDonald.

Kilkenny were level 12 minutes later when Kevin Kelly's good break down the right resulted in Ritchie Hale powerfully heading home his cross.

Kilkenny controlled the whole of the second half, but lacked penetration in front of goal as Longford held on for a point.

Monaghan United earned their second point of the season from another 1-1 draw with depleted Limerick at Gortakeegan.

Lee King and Aaron Shearer came close for Monaghan in the first half with Mick Scully and King and Shearer again missing good openings early in the second-half. Monaghan's pressure told on 54 minutes when a corner from king was deflected into his own net by Anthony Tobin.

Monaghan sat on their lead and were punished nine minutes later when Antonio Izzi capitalised on a poor defensive header to equalise with an overhead kick.