Lee Devitt fired Galway United into the FAI Cup last four with a goal and an assist to knock 2024 cup winners Drogheda United out and send the visitors a step closer to a long overdue return to the domestic football’s showpiece. 

Prior to kick-off, home supporters unfurled a banner taking aim at owners Trivela, in which they implored the US-based owners to relinquish control of the club. 

Tensions have risen between sections of the supporter base and Trivela Group in recent months, while former chairperson Joanna Byrne — forced out by the club earlier this season — had previously acted as a conduit between the new owners and Drogheda’s ultra fan section. 

It was a notable first public display of discontent towards the owners from the fanbase since their takeover in late 2023. 

Sitting ninth in the Premier Division, all is not as well as it might be at Sullivan & Lambe Park. A run deep into the FAI Cup latter stages would surely have helped ease tensions. A follow-up of their stunning success will have to wait. 

Drogheda’s 2024 victory came 19 years after their first FAI Cup win. Galway’s wait has been much longer. 35 years have passed since their one and only success in this competition, when they beat Shamrock Rovers at Lansdowne Road. 

At least in John Caulfield, they have at the helm an expert in getting the job in this competition. Once a winner as a player, he guided Cork City to four straight finals between 2015 and 2018, winning two. 

Drogheda, having started quickly, hit the front after just 14 minutes. Brandon Kavanagh – their outstanding player all season long – brilliantly dinked the ball around Jimmy Keohane and struck a shot low into the bottom corner beyond goalkeeper Hugo Pires da Cunha. 

Stephen Walsh – one of just two players on the field who had been born when Galway last lifted the blue riband cup in 1991 – dragged his team level when his diving header diverted Devitt’s free-kick into the net. 

Mark Doyle’s 63rd-minute sending-off – his second booking for alleged simulation in the penalty area – swung the pendulum in Galway’s favour. They needed something, as they were second best at that point. 

Devitt found space in the area to drill in the winner off the post with just minutes of normal time remaining.