Galway United 2

Wexford FC 0

By Keith Kelly at Eamonn Deacy Park

PERFECTION. The final game of the season, and it ended as it should have, with a win for a Galway United side that added one more notch onto the belt of history as first-half goals from Wassim Aouachria and Rob Slevin sealed a milestone win.

It meant United won all 18 home games this season, becoming the eighth side in the 102-year history of the League of Ireland to finish a season with a blemish-free home record, but 13 from 13 was the previous highest tally, with this new record being different gravy altogether,

It also matched the league record for consecutive home wins in the league, a record set by the Cork City side managed by none other than John Caulfield across the 2016 and 2017 seasons: if you were inclined to include the play-off win over Longford at the end of last season, then this was another new record.

That is a matter of personal preference: there is no ambiguity over the other records United set this season, with an all-time league high of 94 points, and a record haul of 98 goals. We’re not sure if people realise the scale of what was achieved by this United team this season, but if they don’t, that’s on them.

With the win all but wrapped up by half-time, it meant the title party could begin in earnest, though there was the hope that the side would cap its brilliance by hitting the magical 100-goal mark for the season. They came up two short, but sure, they have to leave a target for another time!

United went into the game needing four goals to break the 100-goal mark, and when they took just five minutes to make inroads towards that target, it looked like the ton was on.

Killian Brouder clipped a ball over the top towards the right wing, and Stephen Walsh ‘eased’ Mark Hanratty out of the flight of the ball, allowing it fall for Aodh Dervin.

Pictured: Galway United’s Stephen Walsh on the attack against Wexford FC during Friday’s First Division clash at Eamonn Deasy Park.