Galway Utd 0 St Patrick's Athletic 3:WITH GALWAY United featuring six debutants this was always going to be a demanding evening for the locals on the banks of the Corrib and St Patrick's Athletic were crafty enough to secure an away success.
There was so much to admire in the enthusiastic manner in which a new-look Galway competed during a lively opening period, but the visitors ploughed on defiantly and ruled the second half.
Inevitably there was a degree of rustiness considering the fractured pre-season Galway have endured, but Seán Connor must have been thrilled by the desire and determination his players showed.
After surviving an early scare when St Pat’s striker David McMillan fired wide, Galway created a couple of opportunities themselves during a period of pressure.
Steve Feeney and Seán Kelly went close for Galway as the Tribesmen continued to toil diligently against the Dubliners, who are keen to build on an encouraging 2010.
Pat’s should have scored in the 39th minute when Daryl Kavanagh scampered clear, but Feeney made a splendid last-gasp intervention to ensure the locals went in level at the break.
That altered in the 49th minute when Anto Murphy drilled the Saints in front as Galway’s hesitancy was ruthlessly punished.
Three minutes later Pete Mahon’s charges doubled their advantage when Murphy hurled a long throw into a packed Galway defence.
Evan McMillan climbed high to flick the ball into the path of his brother David, who provided an opportunistic far-post finish.
Galway’s Gary Curran forced a fine save from Gary Rogers in the 82nd minute, but St Pat’s weren’t bothered and they added further damage late on, nicking a third goal in stoppage time when Derek Pender’s cross crept over goalkeeper Greg Fleming.
GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; Shaun Kelly, Feeney, Maher, Walsh; Ryan (G Kelly, 84 mins), Sean Kelly, Curran, Moore; Keane (Curran, 42 mins), Yoffe (Cash, 64 mins).
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Rogers; Pender, Kenna, E McMillan, Shortall (Bermingham, 75 mins); Murphy (Daly, 70 mins), Mulcahy, McFaul, Doyle (Keegan, 89 mins); Kavanagh, D McMillan.
Referee: P Sutton(Clare).
