Well done to the lads on sat nite...

Kildare County 1 Galway United 3

A superb second half performance by United over an inform Kildare County kept our promotion aspirations intact. A dismal first half display by both sides changed dramatically in the second period as United took the game to County and deservedly ran out 3-1 winners.

Before this game County had gone seven games unbeaten, six wins and a draw, 15 goals scored, three conceeded, and five clean sheets. Their run included a shock 1-0 away victory over Bohs in the FAI Cup the previous weekend. Kildare had to start without their influential centre back pairing of Philip Byrne and Ray Kenny who were both suspended. Their veteran striker Alan Reilly missed out through injury.

The first half was a very poor footballing display by both sides with only one shot on target in the first 45 minutes. In the 13th minute Kildare had the first decent attack of note, left back Keith O'Brien sent in a dangerous cross, the cross eluded Mike Quirke but Ryan Casey diverted the danger and headed the ball out for a corner.
United came close after 21 minutes when after some good approach play by David O'Dowd he set up Mixie Harty who from the edge of the box attempted to lob the County keeper but his effort sailed narrowly over. A minute later Kildare left winger Alan Kelly hit a powerful 20 yard shot that went narrowly wide.

In the 24th minute County should of taken the lead when Darren McKenna evaded the challenge of Ronan Frawley on the edge of the box, his powerful shot from 15 yards was well saved by Gough who got down quickly to his right.

In the 26th minute Damien Dupuy sent in a low dangerous cross from the endline, the cross was met by the left foot of the inrushing Mixie Harty but Ryan O'Donnell blocked his goal bound effort.

On 39 minutes Ray Scully hit a strong 25 yard volley that went just wide of Gough's left post.

United started the second half brightly and they gave an early warning of things to come when Damien Dupuy collected a through ball on 55 minutes, his angled left foot shot was well saved by O'Leary down to his right, and pushed out for a corner. On 62 minutes United took the lead, a Mixie Harty corner fell to David O'Dowd 12 yards out, he controlled the ball well before laying it off to Fran Carter who saw his effort come back off the post, the ball fell for Damien Dupuy and from a tight angle he blasted a left foot shot to the top of the net for his ninth goal in 11 starts.

Disaster struck for United three minutes later when Kildare equalised, Darren McKenna got away with a handball before laying the ball off to Ray Scully, Scully shrugged off the close attentions of Mike Quirke and sent a spectacular 25 yard looping shot over a stranded Gough.

The Kildare fans were still celebrating when United restored their lead. Standin centre back Barry O'Connor was dispossessed by Damien Dupuy, the defender then slipped and this gave Dupuy a clear run on goal, the French striker raced clear and confidently dispatched a left foot curler around the advancing Danny O'Leary. This was Dupuy's seventh goal in four games.

United continued to press and they sealed victory on 78 minutes. Dupuy won a corner down the left and Harty sent in another good inswinging corner which was met by sub Barry Moran, Moran's glancing header was superbly saved by O'Leary, but he could only push the ball back into the penalty area, it fell for Fran Carter who hooked the ball to the back of the net.

For the remaining period of the game United dealt comfortably with any Kildare attack. Nigel Keady led the backline with real composure from the start, and he and Conor Frawley were always in command at the back while Alan Gough dealt well with a number of crosses Kildare were aiming at their big striker Sean Francis.

This was a big result for United as we enter the last phase of the current campaign, four wins in a row have put us back in with a shout of challenging for a promotion spot. We can't afford to be complacent as any slip up could prove costly, if we produce displays like we did in Newbridge then this club can certainly challenge those at the top.




Galway United line up:
A.Gough
M.Quirke
C.Frawley
N.Keady
R.Frawley
M.Harty
F.Carter
M.Herrick
B.Moran
D.Dupuy
R.Casey

Subs
C.Fortune for M.Herrick (55 mins)
B.Moran for D.O'Dowd (69 mins)
D.Goldbey for M.Harty (87 mins)

Unused subs
D.McCarthy
R.Forde (GK)

Goals:
D.Dupuy (62, 66 mins), F.Carter (78 mins)

Booked:
D.Dupuy

Sent off:


H/T: 0-0
F/T: 3-1