NATIONAL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION/Galway United...3 Bray Wanderers...5: A flurry of second-half goals cast a dreadful first half to distant memory as Bray Wanderers moved a big step closer to Premier Division safety.
Barry O'Connor opened the scoring when finishing from just yards out from a Stephen Fox lay-off within three minutes of the restart.
But a poor clearance by Bray goalkeeper Matt Gregg, whose kick-out went straight to Alan Murphy, gifted already-relegated Galway an equaliser on 54 minutes; substitute Murphy running on to drill the ball low past Gregg for the first of a hat-trick.
Bray hit back straight from the kick-off with Phil Keogh availing of sloppy defending to score with an overhead kick.
Eddie Gormley extended Bray's lead on the hour when drilling home a free-kick after Keogh was fouled by Fran Carter on the edge of the area.
The goals continued to flow as Murphy then pulled back a second score for Galway on 64 minutes when forcing home Seán Malee's cross. But Gormley made it 4-2 three minutes later with a delightful volley from Paul Keegan's pass.
Murphy completed his hat-trick with the pick of the eight strikes with a terrific free-kick for Galway's third goal on 86 minute before Colm Tresson scored Bray's fifth, also from a 20-yard free-kick, in the final minute.
GALWAY UNITED: R Forde; Sheridan, Silke, Carter, Carberry (H. Murphy 84); Malee, Herrick, Fortune, Quirke (Leyden 84); Brennan (A Murphy 27), Miller.
BRAY WANDERERS: Gregg; Britton, Doohan, Charles, K. Doyle; O'Connor, Gormley, Tresson, Keogh; Fox (Keegan 65), Byrne.
Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).
• On Saturday night Longford Town eased their relegation worries at Flanncare Park with a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Monaghan United.
The game was over as a contest after 17 minutes when the home side went into a two-goal lead.
Stuart Byrne, who was back in his accustomed role in midfield, gave Longford the lead after seven minutes when he shot past goalkeeper Browne after Stuart Holt's corner was half cleared.
Ten minutes later Longford got their second, when a great through ball by Alan Kirby found the striker Fergal Coleman, who turned and shot past the helpless Browne from 12 yards.
