LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION Drogheda Utd 0 Galway Utd 1:A SOLITARY strike from a well-executed Stephen O'Donnell free decided this one as Galway shaded a tight contest thanks to the heroics of goalkeeper Barry Ryan, especially in the second half.
In front of 600 spectators, Drogheda were unlucky not to hit the front when Kevin Ross sent a fine shot towards goal. However, the ball deflected out for a corner.
Galway’s Anto Flood was denied by goalkeeper Paul Murphy before Galway took the lead in the 16th minute when they won a free on the right corner of the Drogheda box which Stephen O’Donnell curled to the top corner.
Flood’s attempted lob from 40 yards only just cleared the bar as Galway went close to a second.
Drogheda went close to levelling matters 20 minutes into the second half when Eoghan Osborne cracked a free from just outside the penalty area but Ryan did really well to tip the ball to safety.
With a quarter of an hour remaining Ryan saved the day for Galway once more going full stretch to his left to deny Glen Fitzpatrick and right on time Ryan pushed Paul Crowley’s point-blank effort over the bar.
DROGHEDA: Murphy, Treacy (Kerr 88), McNally, McGill, Crowley, Flood, Osborne, Ross, Daly, Fitzpatrick (Smyth 80), Brennan.
GALWAY: Ryan, Conneely, McKenzie, Foley, Ryan, O'Donnell, Shepherd, Meynell, Curran (O'Brien 70), Flood (Heary 90), Sinnott (Creaney half-time).
Referee: D McKeon(Dublin).
