A second half brace from Rob Manley secured a late draw for Galway United.

His side trailing 3-1 at half time, first half goals from Darren Clarke after 7 minutes while Matthew O’Brian and Cristian Magersan scored in the 35th and 48th minute for the away side while Galway’s Evan O’Connor got his first United goal after the 27th minute. Both sides now meet again in the coming weeks in a crucial play-off match after an entertaining match in Eamonn Deacy Park 

It was Longford town who got proceedings underway in the final league game in Eamonn Deacy Park for the 2022 season and it was the visitors who started the brightest. 

It was clear from the outset that Longford had a preference to attack down Galways left hand side with Darren Clarke causing nightmares for Galway’s Adam Thomas. 

Longford found the opener with great play down their right flank and found Clarke charging into the area and after some great footwork he engineered himself space in the box and blasted the ball into the back of the net 1-0 with 7 minutes gone on the clock. 

Longford town dominated the proceedings after this point but Galway were given a lifeline when Evan O’Connor rose highest from a corner to net his first United goal bringing his side level after 27 minutes against the run of play but the home side were level.

35 minutes on the clock and again United were undone down their left hand side poor defending led to Longford having a shot at Conor Kearns in goal while he made a good save initially his save was parried into the path of Matthew O’Brian who tapped it home and Longford regained the lead 2-1. 

With Four minutes added on in the first half Longford left it late to find a third this time a corner of their own found the back of the net Cristian Magerusan’s headed effort being deflected into the Galway net and the away side went in at the break leading 3-1

Galway came out quickly in the second half with Rob Manley finding the back of the net in the 46th minute after being found in the box as he tapped in home to bring Galway back into the contest. 

United dominated the second and were much improved on their first half performance. 

Testing Colm Cox in the Longford goal on numerous occasions but the Town shot stopper coming out on top on multiple occasions. 

After 68 minutes Galway trailing 3-2 decided to introduce three subs three debuts for local Galway lads Mike McCullough Aaron Neary and Steven Healy a nice touch for the young lads to get some valuable experience in the First division. 

United looked like the side who would score next and that they did in the 82nd minute Rob Manley got his second of the game a header at the near post after a great ball from Evan O'Connor found him in the area.  

It was a hectic finish to the match as Galway pushed for a winner, but it wasn't to be they added a fourth Debut however in the 90th minute with Adam O’Halloran joining the lads from earlier in a proud night for United's youth coaches.