Galway Push Derry Further Into Relegation Trouble

DERRY are staring at a relegation dogfight from Division Two after Galway overran them in the closing stages of an epic contest in Tuam Stadium on Sunday where seven goals were scored and that only told half the story.

- Alan Dooley

Two penalties were saved by either goalkeeper, Derry had Oisin Hegarty sent off late on, and both side’s defences were marked absent for large spells of an absorbing contest that would have done little good for the blood pressure of either side’s manager.

Derry, having suffered under the high ball early on, had recovered admirably in the second quarter with the wind at their backs and goals from Benny Heron and Emmet McGuckin had them in the driving seat as the half time whistle was about to sound.

Crucial goal

Damien Barton would have skipped to the dressing room for a congratulatory half time team talk with a six point lead in hand, but his mood darkened considerably as Galway landed a crucial blow after the advertised additional minute had elapsed. Galway half-forward Tom Flynn chased onto a handpass on the right flank and broke a tackle too easily before drilling a shot to the far bot tom corner from 15 yards out, re-energising the home crowd after they had collapsed from a position of strength.

James Kielt and Niall Loughlin were the stars for Derry going forward in the opening half, kicking excellent scores from a variety of angles and keeping their side well in the game after Danny Cummins had struck a close range goal on four minutes for Galway with their first meaningful attack.