A BIZARRE goal from Limerick goalkeeper Eddie Hickey and a last minute winner from striker Antonio Izzi inflicted a second successive defeat on promotion favourites Galway United at Terryland Park on Saturday night.

Twenty two year old Hickey lofted a long kick out in the fourth minute and the wind took it all the way into the Galway box where in bounced over the poorly positioned opposing goalkeeper, Eddie van Boxtel, and into the net for a freak opening goal.

Galway were the better side for long spells against a suspension and injury hit Limerick, who could afford the luxury of only two substitutes.

Galway's Aidan Forde crashed a header against the Limerick crossbar from a Sean O'Neill free kick on 28 minutes as Limerick held out until half time.

Seven minutes into the second half Galway were level, however, when Billy Cleary headed goalward from Peter Carpenter's free kick and Ollie Neary tapped the ball over the line from just a few feet out.

A defensive blunder then cost Galway the match in the last minute. Derek Rogers' under hit back pass was intercepted by the alert Izzi, who shot past van Boxtel to complete a night the Galway goalkeeper will want to forget.

In yesterday's only game Monaghan United earned their first point of the campaign when holding newcomers St. Francis to a nonetheless lively scoreless draw at Gortakeegan.

St. Francis' elusive left winger, Thomas Clarke, outwitted Monaghan's veteran defender, Mark Girvan, to put himself through on goal after 22 minutes, but contrived to shoot wide when he really ought to have scored.

Four minutes later St. Francis' goalkeeper, Gary Matthews, made the save of the match to keep out a stinging 25 yard drive from Monaghan's Terry Murphy.