A moment of quality from former Longford player Darren Clarke as his 30 yard effort was deflected into the back of his former employer’s goal with 15 minutes left on the clock to settle nerves as Galway United continued their 100% record in their league campaign at Eamon Deacy Park.

The first half was all about Ronan Manning though as the winger tormented the Longford defence through the opening half. His best opportunity in the 42nd minute came at the end of a mazy 40 yard run before his placed effort from the edge of the box left Brady rooted to the line but the shot went just inches over the top corner of his net to leave the game scoreless at the interval.

It was former Longford Town player Darren Clarke who found the opening to put Galway ahead. He collected the ball wide on the right before cutting inside and unleashing an effort that found the inside of the far post with the help of a small deflection from an outstretched Longford leg.

Longford looked like they had done enough to gather a point especially after keeper Jack Brady had saved a spotkick from Stephen Walsh in the very early exchanges of the encounter.

Galway maintain their 100% record and have stretched their lead over some of the expected title challengers in the division. 

Galway had the first real opportunity after just two minutes when Ronan Manning, who would go on to terrorise the Longford rearguard found a bit of space and the outstretched foot of Longford Town full back Gavin O’Brien and Declan Toland points to the spot to award the penalty.

Jack Brady dove to his right to keep out Stephen Walsh’s effort and Manning was unable to get to the rebound off the keeper.

Ten minutes later Derek Daly’s cross field ball almost finds Stephen Meaney but he can’t make contact with the pass as it evades him to run out over the Galway end line without bothering Clarke.

Gary Armstrong and Darragh Lynch are the two liveliest outlets for the visitors as they combine a number of times to create half chances through the first half but they just can’t find the quality on the final ball to really inflict a mark on the home defence.

The first half was all about Ronan Manning though as the winger tormented the Longford defence through the opening half. His best opportunity in the 42nd minute came at the end of a mazy 40 yard run before his placed effort from the edge of the box left Brady rooted to the line but the shot went just inches over the top corner of his net to leave the game scoreless at the interval.

Things didn’t get much better in the second half in terms of the fare on offer. Both midfields stifled each other out in the early exchanges as Galway United started to show a little frustration

Those frustrations would boil over as both Ollie Horgan and John Caulfield went into the referee’s notebook for verbals as the ref also had words with the Longford bench late on.

It was former Longford Town player Darren Clarke who found the opening to put Galway ahead. He collected the ball wide on the right before cutting inside and unleashing an effort that found the inside of the far post with the help of a small deflection from an outstretched Longford leg.

There was a visible relief around the ground as Galway faced into their sixth straight victory in the league and despite being very early in the league campaign, maintaining a six point lead in the table after just six games.