Salthill Devon 1
Galway United 3

Dara Bradley
at Drom

A VASTLY improved Galway United coasted to a facile victory away to Salthill Devon on Monday evening in the FAI Cup fourth round replay at Drom.

“There’s only one team in Galway” rang out the riling chant from the away supporters in the crowd of around 300 as United outclassed their Division One rivals.

And while the quick witted retort from a bright spark Devon fan – who goaded that United couldn’t pay their players’ wages – raised a few chuckles, the Premier Division outfit had the last laugh by convincingly qualifying for a financially lucrative quarter-final play-off.

By the time goals from Seamus Conneely and a brace from Tom King had ensured Seán Connor’s charges safe passage into the last eight, the draw for the next round had already been made – Galway now face League leaders Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on the week ending Sunday, September 19. United were poor in the drawn game at Terryland on Friday but fully deserved to advance on the basis of Monday’s classy display.

Although Salthill pressured and closed down with no shortage of energy in the opening 15 minutes, United was the only side threatening to take the lead with Jason Molloy missing two early headers after intelligent crosses from Karl Sheppard and Stephen O’Donnell.

United were doing all the attacking and it was only a matter of time before they would break the deadlock. When the opener came, it was worth the entry fee.

Derek O’Brien, who caused havoc particularly in the opening half down the left flank, whipped a cross into the six yard area and although Devon momentarily averted the danger, the clearance only came as far as Conneely who controlled it on the edge of the box with a deft first touch and hit an absolute screamer into ‘keeper Ronan Forde’s top left-hand corner. A first-class strike.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.