Ten-man Galway United edged ahead of Bohemians and into the top four of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division with a thoroughly deserved victory in Phibsborough.John Caulfield's charges silenced all bar those in the Mono Stand in a crowd of 4,101 as Bohs were made to look a distinctly ordinary side by the well-organised visitors.Promoted United have now won away in Derry and Dalymount, at home to leaders Shelbourne and very nearly at champions Shamrock Rovers too.
They are the side that nobody relishes playing against.A Maurice Nugent goal reflected United being comfortably the better side in the first half, but they lost Karl O'Sullivan to a very-much-avoidable red card with over half an hour to go.
It mattered little.United, as a club, arrived in Dublin in a better place than for many years. Not only has the men's team taken to the top flight like a seasoned hack: on Saturday, their women won 4-0 at the expense of DLR Waves before a record crowd for a League of Ireland game (2,861) in Eamonn Deacy Park.United battled for a dour stalemate Friday against Derry, while Bohemians held out for a 1-1 draw against Shamrock Rovers here.
So this was a tough game for the crowd to call, including President Michael D Higgins, long a United fan but warmly welcomed by the home fans in Dalymount.Also among those in the home stand was suspended United boss Caulfield.United played a never-before-together midfield, with Nugent sitting with Patrick Hickey, yet they began brighter, indefatigable veteran Stephen Walsh busy and almost troubling Chorazka on 14 minutes.And it was Nugent who had the visitors in front on 19 minutes, his run down the left and shot forcing a parry from Kacper Chorazka but the ball spilled over the line.It was