Match Report: City 2-2 Galway

The points were shared at Turners Cross on Friday night as Cork City were held to a 2–2 draw by Galway United in the first game of the 2025 Premier Division season.

City found themselves ahead twice as a first-half Malik Dijksteel strike was cancelled out by Patrick Hickey on the stroke of half-time, and Greg Bolger’s 51st minute goal was matched by a late Vincent Borden equaliser.

City’s starting eleven included four new winter signings, with ‘keeper Tein Troost, defenders Benny Couto and Freddie Anderson, and midfielder Rio Shipston all making their first league starts in City colours.

Galway United’s starters included just one winter addition, being the former New Zealand international Moses Dyer.

City launched straight out of the traps on the kick-off, as Malik Dijksteel nearly netted himself one of the fastest City goals in history as he beat the Galway defence and rattled the post inside ten seconds.

City continued to impress in the opening minutes, with Seani Maguire forcing Galway ‘keeper Brendan Clarke into a low save under a minute later.

Seani Maguire was again at the crux of City’s attacking threat, knocking the ball past Brendan Clarke in goal but the angle was too narrow to shoot, so the former Irish international chipped the ball across the face of goal to strike partner Ruairí Keating, who couldn’t nod home into the empty net.

It took thirty-four minutes of intense City pressure to finally break the deadlock. A smart turn from Malik Dijksteel opened space for the winger, and he took full advantage as he rifled a low shot into the bottom-left corner from outside the box.

Unfortunately for the Rebel Army all their hard work in the first-half was undone, with Brendan Clarke’s long free-kick ending up with Jeannot Esua on the right-wing, who found the head of the 6 foot 6’ Patrick Hickey in the box , who headed past Tein Troost with the help of the post in what was the final kick of the half.

It was a largely City-dominated first period, and the stats backed that up with City having nine shots to Galway’s two.

Fortunately, City started the second-half as they ended the first, and found themselves ahead again after fifty minutes.

Rio Shipston’s deep free-kick was only cleared as far as Greg Bolger on the edge of the box, who lashed a low, driven effort on his left foot that somehow avoided the multiple players in its path and nestled into the bottom-right corner.

It was just his second goal in seventy-nine league games in City colours.

Bolger was the hero again just ten minutes later as he miraculously blocked Moses Dyer’s close-range effort to keep City’s lead intact.

In the 67th minute Bolger tried his luck again at goal, as he was set-up by Seani Maguire outside the box but the veteran’s curling shot deflected off a maroon shirt and flew just wide of the post.

The game was brought back to level terms with just ten minutes of normal time remaining. Galway substitute Vincent Borden was the scorer, with the American hoofing a shot on the turn towards the City goal after a corner-kick, which floated into the bottom-right in front of the Shed End.

Cork City had an immediate reply after the equaliser as new man Kitt Nelson attacked the left-flank. The loanee passed to full-back Couto who delivered a perfect cross to the back-post for Seani Maguire, but the striker headed over the bar from six yards, agonisingly close to a famous City winner.

The game ended 2–2 after a thrilling ninety minutes, with both teams very evenly matched ability-wise.

After the chances that City had, they were disappointed to miss out on all three points but there were plenty of positives to be seen from Tim Clancy’s new-look squad.

City are back in action next Sunday, 23rd with the first away trip of the season bringing the Rebel Army to Tallaght, facing Shamrock Rovers.