Galway edge out Waterford to maintain 100% start

If leagues are marathons and teams have the pace themselves over nine months, Galway United got over their first hill as Vincent Borden scored to give them a 1-0 victory over First Division title rivals Waterford at the RSC.

It was a game of shadow boxing as both teams played tight football, careful not to make any kind of mistake and fitting in with this, a routine set piece was nodded in at the back post for the game's only goal.

To Galway, this wasn’t just about making an early season statement, they were also out to avenge last year’s promotion semi-final defeat against Waterford in Limerick. John Caulfield’s team dominated the early passages of play and forced a number of chances which were easily dealt with by the Blues backline.

Their first real opportunity out of this came from a Regan Donelon cross that Rob Slevin smacked off the crossbar. Ed McCarthy was the engine of these drives, and he was denied a goal when Niall O’Keeffe lunged in to block a venomous shot inside the box.

The best Waterford could do was a long range attempt from Chris Conn-Clarke that needed to be palmed over and out for a corner by Brendan Clarke. The Blues created nothing with the set-piece and not even two minutes later, Borden headed in at the back post to make it 1-0.

Waterford’s attempts to pick themselves up were met with a neat press from Galway. Almost every kick-out from Paul Martin triggered a maroon coloured advance, which looked to visibly frustrate the home side.

Stephen Walsh tried to capitalise on his side's momentum after Galway broke from a long Waterford throw-in but his side footed attempt was easily palmed away by Martin.

The first half ended with half chances from Ryan Burke and Giles Philips, and neither of these caused much