St Patrick's Athletic (2) - Galway United (0)

St Patrick's Athletic 2 - Galway United 0

Goals from Ryan Guy and Alex Williams secured an opening night Airtricity League win for St Pat's against ten-man Galway United at Richmond Park.

Guy opened the scoring with a neat shot from the left on eight minutes that Galway goalkeeper Barry Ryan should really have stopped.

Galway were dealt a blow when Stephen O'Donnell was dismissed after a second yellow card on 17 minutes.

Pats then wrapped up the points on 69 minutes when Galway failed to clear Gareth Coughlan's cross and Williams pounced to rifle past Ryan.

The Tribesmen got the better of Pat's in each of their four encounters last season, but the early action suggested that things would be different this time.

Pat's should have been ahead on six minutes after a dangerous Coughlan free landed in the area. Damian Lynch and Guy had touches before the ball fell to Williams but the new signing blasted off target.

Pats went ahead on eight minutes when Galway's Thomas Heary gave the ball away in the danger area. Stuart Byrne capitalised and fed Guy on the left who sent a shot toward the top left of Ryan's goal. The former Saints netminder should have done better but all he could do was palm the ball as it sailed into the net.

Galway's chances of getting back into the game were hit hard on 17 minutes when O'Donnell went for that early bath.

Those early setbacks appeared to spur the visitors on and they enjoyed their share of possession as the half progressed. An extra level of neatness and tidiness in Galway's play ensured that Pat's found it hard to make use of the extra man.

Derek O'Brien went close with a cracking free for Galway a minute into the second period, while Byrne tried his luck with a long range effort for Pat's seconds after that at the other end.

Galway had fractionally more of the chances, though sloppy finishing and a bit of bad luck conspired against them. This was epitomised by a decent Rhys Meynell free that was cleared by the Pat's defence with relative ease.

Pat's had their opportunities too, with Ryan saving well from a Coughlan free after Meynell had taken down Vinny Faherty along the right touchline.

Pats continued the pressure and doubled the lead on 69 minutes.

Galway failed to clear Coughlan's ball from the right and it fell to Williams who finished well past Ryan for his second goal for his new club, having opened his account against Linfield last week.

© rte.ie

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St Patrick's Athletic 2 - Galway United 0

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