news-engine

Galway United and Drogheda United played out a scoreless draw on the Tribesmen's return home to Eamonn Deacy Park. The renovated Terryland surface was in immaculate condition as a tight contest - towards the lower end of the table - took place on a sunlit evening in the west. Early chances fell to Stephen Walsh, who forced Luke Dennison into a save, while at the other end of the pitch, Hugo da Cunha had to be sharp to palm over a looping effort from Jason Bucknor. Clear‑cut opportunities were scarce in a first half that never caught fire, with both teams struggling to produce the quality required to unlock either defence. Just before the break, the home crowd endured a brief scare when ex‑Tribesman Thomas Oluwa almost dispossessed da Cunha in front of goal, but to the relief of the United goalkeeper the ball trickled out of play. The start of the second half saw the game continue in the same vein until United upped the tempo in the final half‑hour. Substitute Francely Lomboto injected a new lease of life into the home attack with his pace, while Walsh and Ed McCarthy both had clear openings denied by Dennison. The Tribesmen were handed a golden opportunity to go in front when they were awarded a spot‑kick in the last 15 minutes after Lomboto was fouled in the penalty area. Up stepped David Hurley, but his effort sailed over the crossbar. In the end, the game remained level. The final chances fell to Lee Devitt, who forced another save out of former United shot‑stopper Dennison, while in added time Warren Davis almost nicked a winning goal for the Boynesiders. Up next in the league for Galway United is an away trip to Dundalk, while Drogheda United host St Patrick’s Athletic. Galway United: Cunha; McCarthy (Connolly 82), Barratt (Devitt 63), Facchineri, Kavanagh, Williams; Bolger, Hurley, Keohane; Walsh, Pierrot (Lomboto 63). Drogheda United: Dennison; Kane, Bucknor (Davis 61), Bolger, Keeley, Agbaje (Burney 76); Bates (Godden 70), Brennan, Farrell; Doyle (Ancelin 61), Oluwa. Referee: Daniel Murphy.