St Patrick's Athletic (1) - Galway United (1)

St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Galway United 1

Just as in the FAI Cup on Sunday, 90 minutes could not separate these two sides back in league action, and these could prove two costly points dropped by St Patrick's Athletic as they were held 1-1 by Galway United.

Saints had to come from behind, as substitute David Hurley's penalty on 61 minutes was cancelled out 11 minutes later by Jay McClelland, but Pat's had more than enough chances to win this relatively comfortably, only to meet an inspired Brendan Clarke in nets for the visitors.

Galway cannot find a win right now but their mood is defiant. They had chances of their own and will feel, after the heartbreak of the 3-1 extra-time loss five days ago, that they deserved a point.

It rates as a bonus point for United in the battle against the drop and Monday's game against Connacht rivals Sligo is massive. Saints could get there via the FAI Cup, but their pursuit of European football again could go all the way to the wire.

United fans spoke pre-match about the pitch potentially being something of a leveller after a day of rain, but it was gleaming under the lights in Inchicore and no excuse whatsoever for either side.

That said, United had an early chance due to the ball holding up six minutes in. Luke Turner has been in fine form for Saints but he badly under-hit a backpass; Patrick Hickey nipped in but Joseph Anang made a critical block and, somehow, the ball dribbled out for a corner.

At the other end, Mason Melia teed Chris Forrester up, only for Jimmy Keohane, who missed a massive chance on Sunday, to fashion a superb sliding block at the box's edge.

The first big chance for Saints arrived a quarter of the game in. Garry Buckley was anchored away from his team-mates after punting the ball forward and when it was returned immediately he inevitably played Melia onside. The teenager had time, but Clarke eyed him and edged a battle he looked long odds to win, and it was a major let-off for United.

Then Jake Mulraney, who excelled on Sunday, was put in on the right and his cross was turned out for a corner, as Pat's began to play like the heavy favourites they were. McClelland, also hugely influential in the match at the weekend, had to be stopped by Jeannot Esua as he threatened to rampage through the entire United defence.

Mulraney came in on his favoured left on the half-hour mark but he was off target, with John Caulfield's decision to take Jeremy Sivi off on 32 minutes for Ed McCarthy going down far from well with the Englishman.

In the next attack, Saints nearly went ahead. This time it was Kian Leavy, Sunday's man of the match, who sensed a vulnerability by running at United, and Clarke again made an excellent save.

Suddenly, it was frantic, and Melia this time got the better of Clarke but his shot was cleared off the line – just about – by Buckley, with United living on the edge.

United's man of the match on Sunday, Hurley, was introduced at the break and immediately made an inspiring challenge to set up a United attack.

Leavy is thriving for Saints at the moment – despite suffering from a heavy cold last weekend – and he squared for Mulraney ten minutes into the second half only for Buckley to block superbly; from the corner, Melia, a massive threat in the air, somehow missed the target at the back post.

Hurley pinged a superb free-kick to the back post and Turner had to block, with Rob Slevin's header goalbound.

The greasy pitch was key to the penalty from which United scored. Chris Forrester slid yards away from Hurley but the surface carried him through and the penalty was a no-brainer for whistler Rob Harvey.

Hurley, already hugely influential, slotted beyond Anang into the corner.

Clarke was United's man of the match and he made a terrific parry with his left hand midway through the half after United needlessly coughed up possession near their end-line.

A former Saint who long watched his beloved local club from the Shed end, Clarke is nearing the end of his career but will go down as one of John Caulfield's best signings for United.

McClelland's attacking ability is a key reason for why Stephen Kenny likes him but United will regret the nature of his shot at the edge of the box which restored parity; it was not especially strong, but it went through the legs of Buckley and Clarke was thus unsighted, as he was for Chris Forrester's free-kick Sunday that put Pat's ahead in extra-time.

United thought they were back in front when Hickey tapped into an open goal after Anang flapped at a cross; Harvey saw that Hickey had handled the ball, much to Caulfield's frustration. The intent or otherwise of Hickey's intervention was hard to decipher.

Turner hardly expected to be left alone in the box from a patient Saints attack on 87 minutes but he was, having been found by a cute Lennon pass; however, the centre-back hooked wide when he should have scored. It would be Saints' last hope.

Hurley saw a straight red at the death for a wild lunge on Leavy; whilst too late to matter, it might when Sligo visit Monday and United's best player of late is unavailable.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 1 - Galway United 1

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