By Neil Madigan
Dean McMenamy snatches a last gasp equaliser for the Blues to cancel out Killian Brouder’s first half header as the points are shared between Waterford and Galway at the RSC.
The Blues were back at the RSC Friday night, hosting a resolute Galway side, who have made a reasonable start to the 2026 campaign. Jon Daly’s side had come into their clash with Galway United still searching for consistency in the early months of the 2026 campaign, with results not always reflecting some competitive performances. While points had been hard to come by at times, there had been enough encouraging moments to suggest they were close to turning a corner.
Galway United, meanwhile, had arrived in more settled form, picking up valuable results and showing greater consistency. With a high-scoring win over Waterford earlier in the season, they had travelled with confidence, setting up an important test for the hosts at the RSC.
The opening moments of the contest saw Galway set the tone with a sharper, more composed start, showing better structure both in and out of possession. Caulfield’s side moved the ball with more purpose and looked comfortable building attacks, while Waterford appeared slightly disjointed and slow to settle into the game. Although there may not have been a decisive early goal, Galway’s superior organisation and control meant they edged this opening spell, leaving Waterford chasing the tempo rather than dictating it.
As the half progressed, the Blues were storming an onslaught. Chances around the six yard box were coming in bunches for the visitors with the hosts struggling to find an opening of their own.
Although the Blues continued to show resilience whilst defending their area, the deadlock was to be broken on the stroke of halftime. A well-executed inswinging corner from David Hurley was able to find the head of inform centre-back Killian Brouder, who put the Tribesmen ahead.
The opening 10 minutes of the second half saw a cautious but competitive restart, with the Blues definitely looking more comfortable in possession. Galway remained to be the team with most of the ball and applied slightly more pressure, while Waterford looked to counter more confidently than the first half.
One of these well-executed counters was the Blues’ greatest chance going into the game’s last quarter. Tommy Lonergan was unfortunate to have his strike go just over the bar after a combination between Couto and McLaughlin broke. After that, Padraig Amond and Conan Noonan had two significant opportunities to ignite the Blues, but they were both unfortunate to not find the back of the net
In the dying embers of the game, The Blues continued to probe as they yet again had a massive chance to cancel out Galway’s first half opener as Trae Coyle’s cross was met beautifully by the head of Lonergan, who narrowly saw his effort over the bar again.
However, this wasn’t to be the end for Daly’s men as in the last kick of the game, a corner was floated into the area meeting Dean McMenamy, who smashed home to set the RSC into pandemonium.
As the final whistle sounded, the home faithful were in full voice as the Blues snatched a well-earned point as they look to turn a corner going forward.
Focus now shifts to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght next Friday.
Waterford FC: Doherty, Jordan Houston (Trae Coyle ‘65), Benny Couto, John Mahon, Cian Barrett ( Dean McMenamy ‘46), Conor Carty (Tommy Lonergan ‘65), Padraig Amond, Kevin Long, Luke Heeney (Evan McLaughlin ‘46), Hayden Cann, Sam Glenfield (Conan Noonan ‘65).
Waterford FC: Doherty (GK); Houston (65′ Coyle), Cann, Long, Mahon, Couto; Glenfield (65′ Noonan), Barrett (46′ McMenamy), Heeney (46′ McLaughlin); Carty (65′ Lonergan), Amond (C).
Galway United FC: Watts (GK), Barratt, Brouder, Walsh (76′ Pierrot), Bolger, Hurley (C), Twardek (76′ Keohane), Facchineri, Wolfe (84′ Williams), McCarthy (76′ Lomboto), Kazeem.
Attendance: 1,826.
