Galway United 4

Cobh Ramblers 1

DAVID Hurley became the first Galway United player in 20 years to hit 20 goals in a season as his brace helped secure a win over Cobh Ramblers on Friday night that was not nearly as comfortable as the scoreline suggests.

Not since Alan Murphy in 2003 has a United player broken the 20-goal barrier in a single season, but Hurley – a shoo-in for the club’s Player of the Season award – hit that mark with two goals in nine minutes, to leave the club’s all-time record of 27 goals in a season, which was Murphy’s final tally in that disappointing First Division campaign in which United finished 7th in the 12-team division, very much in his sights.

There will be no such team failure this time around, as Waterford’s draw against Treaty United on Monday night in their game-in-hand means United have a 15-point lead with just eight games remaining, a schedule from which they need just 10 points to claim the title.

United made two changes for Friday’s game, which was preceded by a minute’s silence for the late Martin Cullinane of Castlegar and Trends Bar in Salthill. Club captain Conor McCormack returned to the starting XI, having missed the FAI Cup win over UCD with a slight knock, with Vince Borden the one to make way.

The other change saw Francely Lomboto preferred over Darren Clarke to come into the side in place of Ed McCarthy, who had emptied the tank the previous Monday in Belfield, but the Moyross man’s chance to recharge the batteries lasted just 16 minutes, when he was introduced for Ronan Manning, who went down holding his hamstring.

Pictured: Galway United’s Ronan Manning brings the ball under control against Cobh Ramblers during Friday night’s First Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.