By Ray Scott
Waterford fell to their third defeat of the season and their first at home to Galway United in 23 years as they lost by a goal to nil at the RSC.
The first quarter hour was all Galway as they took the game to the home side with Stephen Walsh getting on the end of Conor McCormack corner but his header flashed wide of the upright after nine minutes. However they were ahead four minutes later when Alex Murphy created space on the left and sent a low cross into the path of Manu Dimas who had no difficulty in slotting the ball beyond Murphy.
Waterford were dealt a blow on 20 minutes when Junior Quitirna was forced off with a leg injury and Roland Idowu came into the game.
After that change Waterford were brighter with Idowu forcing a good save from Kearns at his near post and then he could only parry Shane Griffin’s 30 yard free kick, saving again from Kevin Joshua immediately afterwards.
Minutes before the break Richard Taylor’s curling right footed effort from the edge of the area drifted wide of the upright as Waterford pressed forward.
The second half saw the visitors tuck in and defend and despite the introduction of Louis Britton, there was no way through a resolute Galway defence. The evening summed up when Britton crashed his header off the crossbar with Killian Cantwell doing likewise with the follow up.
The result lifts Galway into joint top spot with Cork, which makes Monday’s game with the Leesiders a vital one for the Blues.
