Soccer Wrap Up with Mike Rafferty

IT wasn’t exactly a weekend to remember for local representative sides as Galway United went down to Shamrock Rovers in the Enda McGill U-19 Cup final, while also in Eamonn Deacy Park, the Galway League suffered one of their heaviest ever defeats when well beaten by their Mayo counterparts in the Oscar Traynor Cup.

Though there was no Premier League action, University of Galway extended their advantage at the top of the Championship with an away success over Corofin United, while nearest rivals West United fell to a first league defeat of the campaign when going down to Moyne Villa in Headford.

ENDA McGILL U-19 CUP FINAL

Galway United 1

Shamrock Rovers 2

A late Kyle Fitzgerald goal was of little consolation to Galway United as they went down in the Enda McGill U-19 Cup final in Eamonn Deacy Park on Monday evening. They were the better team, but struggled to break down a Shamrock Rovers side who were pushed back into a defensive mode for long spells in the game, but to their credit  defended solidly.

The last thing the home side needed was to concede an early goal and barely three minutes had elapsed when the visitors John O’Sullivan delivered a ball behind the defensive cover and Daniel Bergin latched on to it and slotted past the unprotected Kieran McDonagh.

Stephen Healy was United’s driving force and generally had them on the front foot, while alongside him Gerard O’Riordan and Adam O’Halloran also proved to be capable performers. However, United struggled to work Rovers goalkeeper Toms Leitis whose only direct save came from a Gerard O’Riordan shot on 29 minutes.

A Gavin Smyth cross gave Gradi Lomboto a chance but he headed over, before Lomboto and O’Riordan were both just wide with later efforts. The home side certainly offered a threat out wide where the pace of Gradi Lomboto and the wonderful touch and skill set of Mikey McCullagh had the visitors stretched on occasions.

Pictured: Galway United’s Aislinn Meaney getting the better of Athlone Town’s Shauna Brennan during the Women’s Premier Division tie at Eamonn Deasy Park on Wednesday night. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy,