FAI Cup round-up: Galway hit seven in Bluebell rout

Stephen Walsh and Francey Lomboto both scored twice as First Division promotion contenders Galway United eased into the second round of the FAI Cup at Tolka Park.

Leinster Senior League side Bluebell were behind after just eight minutes and down to 10-men three minutes later as their hopes of causing a shock were dashed almost from the start.

With no sign of new recruit, triple FAI Cup winner Killian Brennan, and with fellow cup winner Robert Bayly starting on the bench, Bluebell were behind after just eight minutes from a softly awarded penalty.

The Red Cow side felt they should have had a spot kick of their own just minutes earlier when new signing Glen McAuley's cross certainly appeared to strike the arm of Galway defender Charlie Lyons.

And while referee Gavin Colfer was unimpressed with that, he had no hesitation in pointing to the spot at the other end when Bluebell defender Nathan Bell pushed Walsh to the ground inside the area as he ran onto a Max Hemmings pass.

David Hurley stepped up to score emphatically from 12 yards, his seventh penalty of the season.

It got no better for Bluebell on 11 minutes when their captain Shane Stritch was shown a straight red card for a dreadful challenge on Galway skipper Conor McCormack.

Despite the double setback, Bluebell carved a real chanceminutes later, Leon Hayes getting in down the left to bring a save from Matt Connor with a low drive from a tight angle.

But Bluebell were stretched on 26 minutes when Hemmings cut in from the right to let fly with a powerful left foot drive that found the sidenetting.

It was all but game over just past the half hour when dominant Galway scored twice inside a minute, both from Walsh.

With appeals for offside not entertained, Walsh stole in to head