Dundalk 1 Galway Utd 0: DUNDALK LIFTED themselves out of the relegation zone with a hard-fought victory over Galway United at Oriel Park last night. Declan O'Brien's second goal of the season gave Seán Connor's side the three points although the striker tarnished his night when he was dismissed in injury time.
Galway had the better of the opening period without ever really testing Chris Bennion as John Russell ballooned over the bar from 20-yards after latching on to Michael Coburn's clearance. Derek O'Brien was lucky to escape a second booking in the 26th minute. The Galway winger, booked for a scuffle with George O'Callaghan in the fourth minute, was fortunate not to see red for a high challenge on the same player.
O'Brien's goal came in the 31st minute. George O'Callaghan played the ball back into the danger zone and O'Brien raced on to Shaun Kelly's flick to lift the ball over the advancing Barry Ryan.
Dundalk could scored again in the 48th minute. David Cook scrambled a Michael Daly cross away for a corner with Tiarnan Mulvenna ready to pounce. From the set-piece O'Brien thought he had made it two when he turned Coburn's flick goal-wards but Iarflaith Davoren, on the line, hacked the ball away. Mulvenna then blazed over from eight yards.
Galway's best opportunity came in the 79th minute when Jay O'Shea almost picked out substitute Mark O'Toole but O'Callaghan did well to track his run. Dundalk should have wrapped the game up in the 88th minute when Ger Rowe found himself in oceans of space but O'Brien failed to pick him out. The striker was then sent-off in injury time.
DUNDALK: Bennion; Coburn, Heary, Simon Kelly, Synott; Shaun Kelly, O'Callaghan, Daly, Mulvenna (Rowe, 65 mins); O'Brien, Mansaram.
GALWAY UNITED: Ryan; Conneely, Guthrie, Breen, Davoren; O'Shea, Russell, McGrath (McBrien, 58 mins), Cooke (Edwards, 58 mins), O'Brien (O'Toole, 76 mins); Faherty.
Referee: Damien Hancock.
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