AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Galway Utd 3 Drogheda Utd 1:GALWAY UNITED bounced back from the disappointing home defeat by Dundalk to claim full points against Drogheda at Terryland Park last night.
That the win arrived via a polished performance flecked with two delicious Anto Flood goals offered further encouragement for Sean Connor’s side.
With Stephen O’Donnell providing the midfield subtlety, Galway settled briskly and took a second-minute lead with a splendid goal.
Séamus Conneely and Karl Sheppard were involved in the build-up as the ball eventually fell for Flood, who guided a superb right-foot volley beyond Paul Murphy. Galway added another in the 24th minute as a short O’Donnell corner allowed Bobby Ryan whip a cross into the area, and a deflected Rhys Meynell shot trickled over the line.
Flood’s physicality was causing Drogheda distress, but it was his deft footwork that mattered in the 51st minute as the former Shelbourne frontrunner converted a Sheppard assist.
Five minutes later Drogheda were reduced to 10 men when Eric McGill was dismissed for a second yellow when clattering into the influential O’Donnell.
Drogheda reduced the margin on 56 minutes as Corey Treacy crashed a header past Barry Ryan.
But Galway ruled the closing stages and the pacy Sheppard came close to adding to their victory margin late on.
GALWAY UNITED: Barry Ryan; Conneely, Synott, McKenzie, Meynell; Bobby Ryan (O'Brien, 62), Foley, O'Donnell, Creaney; Flood (Molloy, 81), Sheppard.
DROGHEDA UNITED: Murphy; King, Treacy, McNally, Kendrick; Daly (Brennan, 22, Harris, 84), E McGill, O'Connor, B McGill; Duffy (Smith, 71), Flood.
Referee: T Connolly(Dublin).
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