Galway United 1

Waterford 0

By Mike Rafferty at Eamonn Deacy Park

The work ethic amongst the players and management at Galway United is one of commitment, passion, enthusiasm, and any other words of a similar vein that explains what they bring to the game, and on Friday night in Eamonn Deacy Park, they used all those attributes to get over the line against a Waterford side who had also made an impressive start to the new Premier Division season.

For an hour of this contest, it was a difficult watch as the two sides were more or less sparring with one another, and even then, hardly a blow was struck. A tactical switch seemed to see a change in the home side as David Hurley and Vince Borden were introduced, and it was fitting that the pair were involved in setting up and scoring the match winner.

The highlight of the game arrived on 80 minutes when Hurley swung in a corner from the right and it was Borden who climbed highest in a crowded box to head home and in the process give the home side a 1-0 win.

The outcome provided a number of landmarks, as United are the only unbeaten side left in the top-flight, following Drogheda’s loss at home against Shamrock Rovers; while they are also positioned in joint second place alongside St Patrick’s Athletic and a point behind the table-toppers.

Despite their impressive start to the campaign, three 1-1 draws in succession had limited their progress, and a win was vital in order to maintain their progress.

Manager John Caulfield made three changes to the side that shared the spoils with Derry City the previous week as skipper Greg Cunningham slotted back to defensive duties instead of Garry Buckley; with Jimmy Keohane and Stephen Walsh replacing Borden and the injured Ed McCarthy.

With both sides lining-out in similar formations, they generally cancelled out one another in the early exchanges. A lack of width ensured a crowded middle of the park and where defences dominated for the duration.

The roar of the crowd was generally lacking in the opening half as their lack of enthusiasm was a response to what was happening on the pitch. They first got an opportunity to raise a voice on 16 minutes and that was directed at referee Paul McLoughlin when he did not award the impressive Moses Dyer a penalty after the busy striker was certainly pulled back in the box.

Later, Dyer set-up Robert Burns for a shot which was deflected away by good defensive cover. A delivery over the top by Cian Byrne saw Stephen Walsh go chasing, but goalkeeper Stephen McMullan got there first.

The home side’s best opportunity of the half came on 36 minutes when a rasper by Killian Brouder was saved by McMullen, but central defender Grant Horton was first to the rebound as he cleared under pressure from Walsh.

Pictured: Galway United’s Rob Slevin calls for a pass from team-mate Jimmy Keohane as Olujimi James Ayodele Olayinka of Waterford moves in to challenge. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.