McCarthy's double ensure Galway victory over former challengers

Galway United 3 Waterford 1 

Two classy first-half finishes from Ed McCarthy helped Galway United maintain their 100% home record against their erstwhile title rivals in dismal conditions in Galway.

It was a game that had loomed large in the calendar as a potential title decider. Instead, it was played out as a matter of course in front a few hundred hardy souls who withstood the sideways Galway rain.

They would eventually get four goals to warm them but both sides made heavy weather of the opening exchanges. Defences dominated until Stephen Walsh found space in the box in the 10th minute. Sam Sargeant smothered his shot to maintain the stalemate.

Waterford were competent going forward but lapsed twice more in the first half. McCarthy made an incisive run into the box. He evaded tackles and curled to the far corner for 1-0 inside 19 minutes.

A standout moment of the first half was a superb reflex save from Walsh. The striker skulked at the back post at a free-kick and shot instinctively when the flick on came. Sargeant contorted himself magnificently to turn the effort wide.

There were no such heroics for the Galway second. A long goal-kick from Brendan Clarke took a bounce and spilled straight to McCarthy. He wrong-footed the keeper by using his left to find the near corner of the net.

Wassim Aouachria made it three against the team he started the season with after fantastic work from David Hurley set him loose in the 54th minute. The big striker slid the ball past young ‘keeper Jason Healy who had replaced Sargeant at the break.

The away team improved and Cameron Cresswell and Christie Pattisson went close to salvaging something for the visitors. Sam Perry did eventually get the consolation as time ran down, nodding