Oughterard And Rovers Share Points

Oughterard Hibs 5

Galway Rovers 5

On Sunday last Oughterard Hibernians were at home to Galway Rovers in the inaugural County Galway Soccer League and shared the points in an entertaining encounter which produced ten goals and some good football despite treacherously slippery conditions.

The home side were rather unlucky not to have won and took an early lead through right winger Gerard Molloy from a cross by inside right Andrew D’Arcy. It was the same player who scored again two minutes later, this time taking advantage of a half clearance to shoot low into the left corner.

Rovers first goal came from a penalty after eighteen minutes when left half John Gibbons handled.

The Galway side, who came more into the game at this stage scored the equaliser after thirty minutes after a build-up which started in their own half was continued right up to the Oughterard goal and rammed home from close range.

Rovers scored again to take the lead after 38 minutes when a cross from the left was driven into the net from close range. From then until half time Rovers took control and it looked as if they might run their less experienced rivals into the ground. But the home side held the score to 3-2 at half time.

On the resumption it looked as if the writing was on the wall for Oughterard when they were forced to play with nine men for the first ten minutes following injuries to goalkeeper, John Gill, following a courageous effort to save the first half penalty, and centre half Peter McAleer.

But the locals fought gallently and with player coach Malcolm Alexander taking over between the posts and proving very competent they built an attack and inside left Tom Lydon beat three defenders to score the equaliser after 65 minuter. Two more goals in quick succession from the D’Arcy brothers Andrew and Gerard put Oughterard in a seemingly unassailable position, but this was not to be.

Galway Rovers fought back to score again after 15 minutes, after a goalmouth melee and we wero all set for a grand stand finish. The Galway inside left gained possession about 35 yards out and slammed a shot all the way to the net for the equaliser to finish the scoring just before the all of time.