CONNAUGHT SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIERSHIP
Soccer News 5 February 1997
NINE POINTS HAUL PUTS UNITED BACK IN THE PICTURE
Straide & Foxford hit the jackpot!
Straide & Foxford United .......1 Galway United ...... 0
Straide & Foxford have hit the Connaught Senior League jackpot! From being four points behind leaders Galway United at the beginning of the week, they have sensationally leapfrogged into the top position themselves with three points to spare over joint second-placed Mervue United and Salthill Devon followed by Galway United a further two points behind them.
The remarkable turnout came about following the shock withdrawal of bottom placed Longford Town.
Straide & Foxford, because they had not played the midlands side, picked up six points with the stroke of a pen.
But unfortunate Galway United, having recorded two wins over Longford, lost out by being pushed off their top of the table spot.
Others to strike it lucky were Salthill Devon and Mervue, both of whom secured three points they didn't expect.
Now, following Straide & Foxford's narrow win over Galway United at Foxford on Sunday, the Mayo club are being installed as favourites to lift the crown for the second time.
A goal thirteen minutes from the end by defender Brian Joyce sealed Straide & Foxford's vital win. United returned to basics to achieve a deserved victory over the Galway side. They battled and harried and hassled for the entire ninety minutes, giving Galway little opportunity to impose themselves.
LAST LAUGH
Galway, in fact, had to wait until the 48th minute before having their first strike on target, Michael Quirke being denied by goalkeeper James Larkin.It was a let-off for Straide & Foxford who came more into the match as an attacking force in the final quarter.
Johnny Jordan, Martin Neary and Declan Smyth all missed chances before Joyce's winner. Joyce played a one-two with fellow defender Alex Durkin before blasting the ball past Gabriel Higgins in the Galway United goal. Pat Reid could have snatched a second goal for Straide & Foxford before the end, but he shot into the side netting.
A free-for all broke out in the closing moments, but Straide & Foxford had the last laugh.
Outstanding for them was midfield ace Michael Costello who displayed tremendous battling qualities alongside Frank Mulvihill. Joint managers Mulvihill and Gerry Coleman had made two changes for the side defeated by Galway United two weeks ago in their previous league match.
They recalled Pat Neary, Declan Smyth and Mulvihill, himself, in place of Martin Keaveney, Pat Reid and Liam McHale.
Straide & Foxford: J. Larkin, D. Flannery, P. Neary, J. Kenny, A. Durkan, B. Joyce, M. Costello, F. Mulvihill, D. Smyth, M. Neary, J. Jordan. Res: P. Reid (for Flannery); N. Reape (for Smyth).
Galway United: G. Higgins, T. Sweeney, E. Sherlock, H. Costello, F. Carter, P. Bruton, P. Thornton, B. O'Connor, J. Flaherty, M. Quirke, A. Forde. Res: A. O'Boyle (for Forde).
Ref: M. Walsh (Castlebar).
* Star Rating: Michael Costello. . .power-packed performance.
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - February 1997
