Galway United and Kerry FC played out a thriller tonight as United made it 10 from 10 in the First Division but were pushed hard by a young Kerry side.

United showed their professional quality once again tonight but not without a Kingdom scare. Kerry took a lead that you couldn’t say they didn’t deserve with five to go in the first half through a Kelliher header with Galway answering back moments before the break through Hurley.

United came out flying at the start of the second half and moments after Hurley rattled the bar, Stephen Walsh gave the Tribesmen the lead. Colm Horgans stunner made it three at the hour mark with Stephen Walsh adding a fourth from his head with twenty to go.

Galway United will look to continue to stretch the gap on Waterford when they host Cobh next week whilst Kerry travel to Treaty United for the first time in what should be a thrilling Munster derby.

The game was lively in the opening stages with Galway knowing an early goal would kill the Kerry confidence as they did at home in the previous fixture. However Kerry were a bit more streetwise coming into this one, killing the early momentum and it was the hosts who through Sean McGrath had the first major chance of the game.

McGrath ended up with the ball at his feet behind the Galway back four and his right footed effort was kept low across the keeper as he tried to find the bottom corner but Clarke met it well.

Kerry brought the game up to the half hour mark scoreless as frustrations were starting to set in. Their biggest issue though was Barrett and Teehan both booked in the centre of the park with Guthrie in net also seeing yellow for time wasting.

The Kingdom shocked the away side five minutes before the break when they took the lead and it is hard to say it was not deserved. McGrath did well down the left side to force a corner which he and Gaxha took short. Leo Gaxha worked a better angle to swing the ball in off his right towards the back post and Ryan Kelliher rose highest to head home from a couple yards out.

Galway managed to get back level just before the break. McCormack floated a high ball towards Guthrie, who Galway had clearly been targeting and David Hurley rose above the Kerry captain this time to float it in and kill the Kerry momentum. A major moment in the tie just seconds before the half time whistle. The hosts will be happy enough with the game level at the break but will know that late goal will give the away side big momentum when they return for the second.

Galway United were unlucky not to take the lead in the early stages of the second half. McCormack took a free short, sliding the ball to the left for Hurley who rattled the crossbar.

United kept up their strong start though, and some great work from Nugent around the Kerry box ended up with him sliding in Stephen Walsh and the striker made no mistake smashing low off his left past Guthrie. Kerry now left with a major task to get something out of this.

Galway showed their quality and put the game out of sight with the goal of the night thus far just before the hour mark. Full back Colm Horgan cut inside and off his right foot smashed the ball past Guthrie from just outside the box. A fantastic finish but questions must be asked of the space Kerry gave the United man in such a dangerous area.

United almost made it four from another set piece as McCormack swung in off the right which was met by the head of top scorer Borden who cracked the bar for the second time in the half for the away side.

Moments later it was four, once again Galway exploiting the set piece issues of the Kingdom and this time Stephen Walsh rose highest above his man to head back across goal and put real daylight between these teams.

The second half was dominated by the away side who showed their professional dominance to put this young feisty amateur team to bed and avoid a big upset after a first half that they would not have been happy with. This kind of performance away from home shows that this Galway team under the management of Horgan and Caufield are setting themselves up for a long stint in the top tier but know that every point matters after falling in the playoffs the past few years.

Kerry kept going though to their credit and striker Tryp who came off the bench rattled the bar which brought the home support back to life. Kerry worked the chance from a free kick with set pieces being the phrase of the night, Tryp got to the rebound but headed over.