Galway United secured a narrow 2:1 victory over Drogheda United in the Irish Cup quarter-finals at the RSC on Thursday evening. The result means the visitors advance to the semi-finals with a 1-0 aggregate lead after last week's goalless draw. B. Kavanagh had given Drogheda an early advantage, but S. Walsh and L. Devitt ensured Galway held on despite losing a player to a red card.
Drogheda struck first through B. Kavanagh in the fifteenth minute, capitalising on a moment of space in the penalty area. S. Walsh responded quickly, finding the net in the twenty-second minute to level matters. To be fair, the home side pushed forward with more urgency after going behind, but Galway's defence held firm through the opening exchanges.
The match turned in the sixty-fourth minute when M. Doyle received his second yellow card and was sent off. By then, Drogheda had been playing with more intent, but the dismissal changed everything. Galway managed the game well after that, keeping possession and limiting the home side's chances.
L. Devitt scored in the eighty-second minute to extend Galway's lead, but Drogheda refused to give up. The home side threw bodies forward in the closing moments, with L. Kavanagh coming on as a substitute in the ninety-third minute for one final push. Galway's defence held its shape to secure the victory.
Drogheda dominated possession at 56 per cent and registered 99 attacks compared to Galway's 85. However, the home side managed only two shots on target, while Galway converted their opportunities more efficiently. The statistics suggest Drogheda controlled territory but struggled to create clear-cut chances.
Galway United now advance to the semi-finals with momentum behind them. They beat Drogheda 2:1 away from home after a 0:0 draw in the first leg, showing resilience under pressure. The visitors will look to build on this performance as they prepare for the next stage of the competition.
