On John Caufield’s 100th match in charge, Galway United celebrated with victory over a brave Kerry FC side in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Maurice Nugent’s header opened the scoring after ten minutes but it was the away side who against the odds were the better side in this one, managing to really frustrate their hosts for long periods of time.

Kerry had chances and almost grabbed a shock point in the second half with Gaxha forcing a big save from Clarke and Kelliher smashing just wide moments later.

Galway though, maintain their 13 point lead at the top and now prepare to travel for the first time in a month next Friday when they face Cobh Ramblers. Kerry look forward to a Munster derby in Mounthawk Park against Treaty United.

As the game got underway it was the away side who started the better and had the first effort on target. Some great work between Gaxha and McGrath to get out of trouble in the Galway half lead to Kerry getting the ball up the pitch and a missed headed clearance left Kelliher with time and space but his left footed effort 20 yards from goal was met well by Clarke.

At the ten minute mark though the hosts returned to the probable script. Reagan Donelan on the left hand side whipped a peach of a cross into the box finding Maurice Nugent unmarked who headed into the bottom left corner for the opening goal.

Despite the early goal, Kerry did keep up what was really a solid start against the league leaders. Some good defensive work to break up any Galway possession left them with a lot more of the ball then many would have anticipated and even fashioned another good chance with a ricochet in the box falling to Kelliher who was unlucky not to keep his shot on target.

With the hosts leading, it wasn’t proving to be a stress free 100th game in charge for United boss Caufield with he and his ever colourful assistant Ollie Horgan barking orders to their side from the touchline, unhappy with the performance after half an hour.

Maurice Nugent almost made it two with a second headed goal only to be denied by the bar. The second phase of the corner caused Kerry issues at the back with the Clare man almost doubling the lead before the break.

Kerry had a flurry of corners before half time with both testing Brendan Clarke in the United net who was able to clear his lines and maintain the one goal lead at half time.

There was not much of note in the opening twenty minutes of the second half with the away side doing well to get under the skin of the hosts. A decision that went the way of Kerry frustrated the United bench with Ollie Horgan picking up his customary yellow card.

Kerry had two major chances to equalise with Leo Gaxha latching onto a Sean O’Connell header and guiding towards the side netting but Brendan Clarke made a fantastic acrobatic save to his left. Ryan Kelliher from the resulting play flashed a shot just left of the post that the away support felt was destined for the net.
The Kingdom bought on Cian Brosnan, who netted for the first time at senior level last week as they continued their push for an equaliser but despite their best efforts were unable to get the goal they most probably deserved.

One of the biggest credits to the travelling side was watching the runaway league leaders hold the ball and slow the game down in the final few minutes to run the clock out and escape with the points. A positive they have to take home with the goal of a first win at Mounthawk Park in mind next Friday night.