Lee Devitt's late goal sent Galway United into the semi-finals of the Club Orange Men's FAI Cup with a dramatic 2-1 comeback win at Drogheda United. The victory, reported by RTÉ, keeps alive the Tribesmen's hopes of reaching a first cup final in 35 years.
John Caulfield's side, currently 7th in the Premier Division with 34 points from 28 games, showed resilience to overturn a first-half deficit. Brandon Kavanagh had given the hosts the lead in the 22nd minute, capitalising on his good form after scoring in the Louth derby the previous week. Stephen Walsh then equalised for Galway before the important intervention from substitute Devitt.
How did Galway United win the match?
The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Wasiri Williams drove down the right flank and delivered a precise pull-back into the Drogheda penalty area. Lee Devitt met the cross first-time, his shot nestling in the net via the inside of the post past goalkeeper Luke Dennison. "Lee Devitt's late strike, hitting the net via the inside of the post, won it for John Caulfield’s combative team," the Galway manager said afterwards. The goal completed a turnaround that seemed unlikely when the visitors fell behind.
Drogheda's task was made harder when Mark Doyle received a second yellow card for simulation in the area, reducing them to ten men. Referee Kevin O’Sullivan had little choice but to dismiss the forward. Galway goalkeeper Hugo Pires da Cunha made several important saves to keep his team in contention before the late winner.
What was the fan protest about?
Before kick-off, home supporters unfurled a banner criticising the club's US-based owners, Trivela Group. The display, which urged Trivela to relinquish control, represented the first notable public discontent since their takeover in late 2023. Tensions have been rising between sections of the supporter base and the ownership in recent months. This followed the forced departure earlier this season of former chairperson Joanna Byrne, who had acted as a conduit between Trivela and Drogheda’s ultra fan section.
What does this mean for Galway United's season?
The cup run provides a bright spot in a league campaign where Galway sit 22 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. Their recent form, however, is strong with three wins and two draws from their last five matches across all competitions. They are on a two-game winning run following this result and their last league outing. The team has scored 36 goals this season but conceded 42, giving them a -6 goal difference that they will look to improve.
Progress to the semi-finals offers a tangible target for the remainder of the season. You can track their quest for silverware and their push up the standings. The victory also builds momentum ahead of a challenging next fixture against Bohemians, who are 3rd in the table, at home on September 11. Full details of that match and others are on our fixtures page.
Who were the key players and substitutions?
Beyond the goalscorers, several squad members played important roles. For Galway, Leigh Kavanagh was substituted in stoppage time for Gianfranco Facchineri, while Kelende Thiam and Frantz Pierrot came on in the 89th minute for Al-Amin Kazeem and Kris Twardek respectively. Drogheda made multiple changes, with Thomas Oluwa replacing the injured Keegan Ancelin as early as the 12th minute. Leo Burney came on for James Bolger in the 40th minute, and later substitutes included Ryan Markey, Ethan O’Brien, and Warren Davis.
The result sets up a semi-final clash as Galway United continue their best cup run in decades. Their next challenge is a Premier Division encounter with Bohemians at home on September 11.
