Galway United played out a 1-1 draw against Shelbourne at Eamonn Deacy Park last Friday night.
Jimmy Keohane’s spot kick on the stroke of half-time was cancelled out by a Mipo Odubeko strike as the Tribesmen moved one step closer to securing their Premier Division status for 2027. The result leaves John Caulfield’s men in seventh place, four points clear of the relegation play-off place with four games to play.
The only League of Ireland fixture to take place at the weekend, an unplayable pitch at Terryland back in April meant that this now crucial fixture had to be rescheduled. Both sides entered the contest with aspirations of a European place such is the tight nature of the table.
Shels started the brighter and were unlucky not to find themselves in front. Impressive wingplay from Seán Moore allowed him to pinch a cross towards the back post for the onrushing James Norris. His header back across goal landed to Evan Caffrey whose header rifled Hugo Pires da Cunha’s crossbar before being cleared to safety.
United responded to that scare positively. Defender Anthony O’Connor failed to make the most of an acrobatic effort after Lee Devitt flicked the ball over the Shels defence. O’Connor’s attempt tricked past Conor Walsh’s goal.
Five minutes into first-half stoppage time and Eamonn Deacy Park rose to their feet. Devitt’s headed attempt in the Shels box was met with the high boot of Jack Henry-Francis, giving referee Rob Hennessy no choice put to point to the penalty spot.
Up stepped captain Jimmy Keohane to finish with aplomb. The United skipper fired his penalty past Walsh to send his side into the break 1-0 to the good.
Minutes after Aaron Bolger came close to doubling the Tribesman lead, Shelbourne right-back Milan Mbeng picked Gianfranco Facchineri’s pocket before squaring to the grateful Odubeko who took full advantage to level the tie.
Both sides went blow-for-blow in search of a winner. Despite a number of chances following to Odubeko, it was United who would have the best chance to get a winner.
Francely Lamboto stormed through the Shels defence to put himself one-against-one with Walsh. The United forward produced a tame effort straight at the ‘keeper and the referee sounded the whistle to confirm a fourth stalemate of the season between the two sides.
Galway United: Da Cunha; Barratt, Facchineri, Williams (Kazeem 9, Lomboto 44 ), O’Connor, Bolger, Hurley, Keohane, Twardek, Devitt, Walsh (Pierrot 81 ).
Shelbourne: Walsh, Mbeng, Casey, Ledwidge, Norris, Henry-Francis, McInroy, Bone (Coote 65 ), Caffrey, Odubeko, Moore (Boyd 44, Martin 77 ).
Ref: Rob Hennessy
