Galway United 1

Dundalk 1

Keith Kelly

Galway United’s old failing of conceding late goals resurfaced again in Terryland Park on Sunday night as Dundalk striker Neale Fenn forced home an equaliser four minutes into injury time to deny the home side a badly-needed win in their push to escape the relegation play-off zone.

In truth, it was no less than the visitors deserved as they dominated the second half, and only for Barry Ryan, the Lilywhites would not only have been level, but would have been out of sight by the time Fenn struck to break United hearts.

That will be of little comfort to United, who had led since the 15th minute thanks to Steven Walsh’s first goal for United on what was his first start for the club, and it looked like being enough to secure a morale-boosting win – and only the second in 12 games – for a United side that was forced to field a central defender in midfield, and a central defender and winger up front after injuries and suspensions decimated an already small squad.

Walsh received a thoroughly deserved standing ovation when he was replaced two minutes from time on what was an emotional night for the club. Bobby Ryan came off injured in the 72nd minute, and he stopped to applaud all sides of the ground in a gesture that suggests he had played his last game for the cub.

Both he and Thomas Heary are likely to be released from their contracts this week as United manager Sean Connor faces a tougher task than Government to try and balance the books, which will be another blow to United’s efforts to finish the season outside of the bottom three.

United need to build a young and local squad, and need the patience of supporters to do so, as there clearly isn’t the money there to bring in any long-term signings, but as Walsh, who is from Ballinfoile, showed, the talent is out there.

It was also heartening to see Ballybane youngster Emmet Shaw given his debut, which rubbishes the frankly pathetic line trotted out by some so-called football people that, as United have no local players, they won’t support them.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.