Longford Town fell to a new season low as Galway United scored a six-nil win in the Sports Direct FAI Cup First round clash at Eamon Deacy Park.
Galway United dominated the contest from the whistle. It took just three minutes for their first effort on target writes Tony Ghee.
Patrick Hickey’s downward header found the unmarked Maurice Nugent but his 10-yard shot was straight at Town keeper Jack McCarthy.
Six minutes later, the unmarked Hickey should have opened the scoring. However Hickey headed over Robert Burns corner from just 12-yards.
Galway opened the scoring a minute later. Hickey again involved in the move as he received the ball inside the Longford box, finding Francely Lomboto who cut back inside with his first touch and rifled his 16-yard shot to the roof of the visitors’ net.
Galway doubled their lead, two minutes later. Colm McCormack’s corner found Nugent. The first attempt was cleared off the line. Nugent slotted home from close range at the second attempt.
Galway’s wave of attacks continued, Jimmy Keohane’s 23rd minute shot was saved by Town stopper McCarthy.
United’s third goal arrived two minutes later. McCormack left-wing corner was missed by the head of Hickey. However the ball ended up in the net after striking Town player Eric Yoro.
On the half-hour mark, Nugent ran at the retreating Longford defence, finding Hickey whose 22-yard shot was well saved by McCarthy. Two minutes later, the siege on the Longford goal continued but Keohane’s lobbed header was turned around the post by the back peddling McCarthy.
Galway finished the half strongly with three more chances. Keohane and Colm Horgan carved open the Longford defence. Keohane’s curling 23-yard shot flew over the bar.
No second half let up from Galway
Moments later, Lomboto skipped passed Shane Elworthy, his pin-point cross was headed over by the unmarked Hickey from 10-yards out. Just before the interval, Hickey missed yet another excellent chance when he shot straight at McCarthy from close-range.
Two minutes after the restart, the hosts should have scored their fourth, but somehow, failed to convert three efforts.
Firstly, a Lomboto shot was saved by McCarthy. The rebound from Keohane struck the post before Hickey blasted his effort over the bar.
The hosts chances continued to flow as Uzokwe headed a Nugent cross narrowly over the bar and on 56 minutes. A defence-splitting pass from Hickey put Uzokwe clean through, but his shot across goal flashed inches wide of the far post.
The Premier Division outfit went four-up on the hour. Town defender Carl Lennox pulled down Hickey for a stonewall penalty. Up stepped substitute David Hurley to despatch the spot-kick to the net sending McCarthy the wrong way.
Galway scored their fifth 14 minutes from time. Burns played a superb ball to Uzokwe down the left, who squared the ball to Keohane who calmly slipped the ball past the advancing McCarthy.
Other chances for the rampaging Tribesmen saw Burns firing just wide and Uzokwe head against the Town bar.
The Tribesmen hit Town for six four minutes time. A great move down the right, resulted in Hurley finding Vincent Borden inside the box. Borden found Uzokwe who fired in Galway’s sixth.
Galway United (4-1-2-3): Clarke, Horgan, Buckley, Brouder (Slevin HT), Burns, McCormack (Hurley 29), Nugent (Fitzgerald 61), Keohane (O’Keefe 69), Uzokwe, Hickey (Borden 61), Lomboto.
Longford Town (4-2-3-1): McCarthy, Elworthy, Lennox, O’Shea (Hery 57), O’Connor, Yorro, Serdeniuk, Campbell (Lotefa 81), Topcu (Chambers 57), Wixted (Fay 69), James (Adeyemo 69).
Referee: David Dunne.
