Cork City lose on the road again as Galway United leave relegation all but a certainty
Sean Maguire of Cork City in action against Bobby Burns and Jeremy Sivi of Galway United during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division clash at Eamonn Deacy Park. Picture: Ray Ryan
And that’s that. Relegation not a matter of if, but when for Cork City.
Another fruitless away performance, this one the worst of all – as Galway picked up their first League of Ireland Premier Division win since June, beating City on Friday night at Eamonn Deacy Park, to stretch the gap to 11 points ahead of the Leesiders.
Ger Nash’s team now need 12 points from four games. And that’s with Galway and Sligo failing to pick up a single point from their remaining games. Not a matter of if, but when.
They can have no complaints, either. Their woeful away record coming back to haunt once again, as Stephen Walsh’s brace ensured Galway held a 2-1 advantage at the break.
Alex Nolan had fired a brilliant effort from range late in the half, but City conceded a disappointing goal just before the break.
They spent the entire second half striking half chances and struggling to break down their opponents. But they only needed one to get back in it.
They looked to have found it in the 85th minute. Maguire got on the end of Nolan’s low cross, poking it home. Nash’s arms were raised in celebration but quickly went behind his head as the offside flag was raised.
Nothing now but the FAI Cup left to play for.
The opener was a poor one for City to cough up, too. A routine delivery from a Jimmy Keohane free on halfway, Patrick Hickey helped it on after beating Conor Brann to it, and Walsh rose highest to get it into the gaping net and put Galway in front after 18 minutes.
It might have been worse three minutes later. Walsh turned provider this time, cutting the ball back neatly for Killian Brouder, only for the defender to lash over from close range.
For all the noise and bite in midfield, the game offered little in the way of clear-cut chances until the closing stages of the half. Josh Fitzpatrick was at least trying to drive City forward, Seani Maguire did the hard yards with his back to goal, but the final ball continually broke down for Ger Nash’s side.
Galway threatened again in the 39th minute, Keohane’s curling effort drifting just wide of the far post, but Robbie Burns and his defensive unit otherwise had City at arm’s length.
Still, a lapse was punished. Alex Nolan picked up possession from Brann on halfway, carried through the centre almost unchallenged, and not for the first time City marched through unopposed.
He opened up, and whipped a stunning strike into the top corner from outside the box to level it on 42 minutes.
Parity, though, was short-lived. A mere four minutes later, Dara McGuinness skated past his man on City’s left and dropped in a cross of real quality.
Walsh met it perfectly, steering his header into the far corner for his 61st Galway goal on what was his record-equalling 368th appearance, nudging Galway back ahead in additional time.
Eamonn Deacy Park erupted. Ger Nash looked on in disbelief, knowing the task that awaited in the second half. A task they would fail to achieve.
The second half brought plenty of half chances, but nothing concrete. Walsh came close to getting his hattrick with a headed effort wide on the resumption, but chances were few and far between for both sides.
City had done little to threaten Evan Watts and get their desperately needed equaliser. Benny Couto and Kitt Nelson were sprung from the bench in an effort to achieve that.
Still, by the 69th minute, they had only registered one real chance. Maguire firing over from close range after being crowded out by three different Galway defenders.
They plugged away, but bar Maguire’s late offside goal, they couldn’t break down the hosts. Cork City spent the minutes after full time applauding their supporters, but with a different air than it normally carries.
Relegation not a matter of if, but when.
Watts; Esua, Brouder, Buckley, Burns; Bolger (McCarthy 67), Slevin, Keohane (c); Hickey, Walsh (Horgan 90+3), McGuinness (Sivi 88).
Brann; Anderson, Kelleher (c) (Couto 63), Feely, Kiernan (Lyons 85); Crowley, Kamara (Nelson 54); Nolan, McLaughlin, Fitzpatrick (Lee 85); Maguire.
R Hennessy (Limerick)
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