Ulster Senior League champions Cockhill Celtic bowed out of the EA Sports Cup after a narrow loss to League of Ireland First Division Galway United at Eamonn Deacy Park.
Galway United 1 Cockhill Celtic 0
Cockhill goalkeeper Lee McCarron had a superb evening for the Inishowen side, who were in the mix for the most part, but an unfortunate Gerry Gill own goal proved the only goal of the game.
Stephen Kenny’s dangerous delivery from a free kick on the left was met by the head of Gerry Gill, but the attempted clearance looped goalward and over the head of McCarron into the top corner of his own net.
Alan Murphy, making his first competitive start on his return to Galway United, delivered a cross for Marc Ludden but his effort was deflected out for a corner.
A long throw from the visitors broke to Gill, but his shot was blocked down in a crowded area and cleared to safety.
Before the break, some nice play from Ronan Manning on the edge of the box saw him lay the ball off to Alan Murphy who hit a curling effort towards the left corner, that McCarron needed to be at full stretch to save.
McCarron saved from Conor Lyang and the Cockhill stopper thwarted the same player late in the game
Galway United: Mamala; Nugent, Rooney, Walsh, Kinneen; Murphy, Byrne (Connolly 81); Kenny, Manning, Ludden (Melody 72); Layng.
Cockhill Celtic: McCarron; Varma, P. McDermott (Kelly 32), Breslin, Doherty, McColgan, McLaughlin (Doherty h-t), M. McDermott, Bradley, McKinney (D. McDermott 72), Gill.
Referee: John McLoughlin (Roscommon)
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