Keeper heroics denies Tullamore Town a deserved away victory

Galway Utd 0 Tullamore Town 0 For the second week in a row Tullamore returned home feeling that all three points should have been theirs after an outstanding performance against a very experienced home team. This was a hugely impressive performance by all thirteen players used on a pitch that left a lot to be desired. Galway fielded a very strong side with a number of their players drawn from the first team squad but in the end they owed their point to a wonderful display from their Ireland Under-19 goalkeeper Ger Hanley who pulled off a series of brilliant saves throughout the match. Tullamore were first to threaten when Simon Keegan made a good run on the left and cut the ball back but defender Paul Sinnott got back to knock it out for a corner. In the eighteenth minute Eoghan O"Shea made a great block from a Mark O"Toole shot while at the other end the visitors had a good shout for a penalty when Brian Francis appeared to be hauled down in the box. With half an hour gone Stephen Francis set up Kevin Duffy who fired narrowly over and then on the stroke of half time O"Shea got on the end of a Duffy corner but Hanley saved superbly. On the restart Tullamore were back on the offensive when Darren Coleman broke clear on the right with Stephen Francis heading his cross just over. They again went close on the hour when Brian Francis made a fine run on the right and picked out Coleman but defender Liam McKenna made a great block to prevent a certain goal. Town had a lucky escape in the seventy fifth minute when a free kick from the left was headed home by Shane Fitzgerald but to their great relief the referee awarded a free out for a foul on keeper Joe Mooney. Two minutes later Kevin Duffy swung in a fine cross which was met on the volley by Darren Coleman but again Hanley dived to his left to brilliantly turn the ball around the post for a corner and with ten minutes remaining Brian Francis picked out Mark Goodings but his shot hit the post. Hanley kept the best wine until last when deep into time added on Kevin Duffy whipped in a cross and Scott Delaney rose to power his header towards the top corner only for the keeper to brilliantly turn the ball over. After the game a delighted Mark Dempsey hailed his team"s performance and the manner in which every player contributed to the result. Tullamore: Joe Mooney, Scott Delaney, Shane Mannion, Eoghan O"Shea, Brendan Bracken, Stephen Duffy, Brian Francis, Kevin Duffy, Stephen Francis, Darren Coleman and Simon Keegan. Subs: Michael Hoey, Mark Goodings, Ken Doyle, Fergal Gorman and Ross Whittaker. Tullamore have no game this weekend but are at home to Sligo Rovers on Saturday week, 4th July, kick-off 3.00 pm. There are still available spaces in the all-weather pitch, enquiries to Leslie Francis 086 1966522.