Galway United 2

Drogheda United 1

SOME 3,000-plus years after Moses led his people out of Egypt, Galway United fans are starting to dream that his namesake can lead their tribe to the promised land of European football.

Moses Dyer scored twice in the space of 78 chaotic seconds in the second-half of this clash last Friday night to see the Tribesmen come from a goal down to inflict just a second defeat of the season on the visitors and join them on the top of the table, separated by just goal difference.

The New Zealand striker is making a hell of a case for a call-up to his country’s squad for next year’s World Cup in the USA – he won the last of his 11 caps in 2018 – as he made it four goals in two games, and seven for the season, to move top of the league scoring charts.

They were his first goals at home, with his previous strikes having come away at Derry City, and a pair both away to Bohs and Shels, to see United bounce back from successive home defeats to guide the Tribesmen to their fifth win of the season.

There were two changes to the side which twice came from behind to draw 2-2 in Tolka Park the previous Bank Holiday Monday, with Cian Byrne returning after a one-match ban, and Jeannot Esua coming back into the side after recovering from a knock.

United started well, playing positive heads-up football and pressing the visitors back towards the goal at the clubhouse end of the ground which they were defending in the opening half.

Dave Hurley – who continues to extend his own club record of consecutive appearances, this being his 129th game on the trot for United – had the first couple of chances, but while the first was as unlikely as it was audacious when attempting to lob visiting goalkeeper Luke Dennison straight from the kick-off, the second five minutes later was much more realistic, Dyer rolling a free-kick to him on the edge of the box, but he drilled his effort wide of the near post.

Dyer himself had a pop from a somewhat narrow angle within two minutes of that second Hurley effort when Pat Hickey chested-down Esua’s cross into his path, but his effort was blocked for a corner.

The visitors rode out that early storm to slowly ease their way into the game, and looked dangerous every time they poured forward, looking to use the pace of Thomas Oluwa – one of a trio formerly of this parish along with Dennison and James Bolger – to get in behind the three United centre-backs.

Bolger and Shane Farrell were pulling the strings in midfield, while Ryan Brennan used his footballing smarts to often pop-up in the right place at the right time, firing a 20-yard volley just over Brendan Clarke’s crossbar after the home side failed to clear their lines from a corner.

They went more direct midway through the half, Dennison picking out Oluwa on half-way with an inch-perfect throw. The pacey frontman turned and raced for goal, but Esua is no slouch either and got back to get a crucial block on Oluwa’s eventual shot.

Pictured: Galway United’s Robert Burns in a race for possession with Owen Lambe of  Drogheda United during Friday night’s Premier Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.