United began their pre-season match schedule with a solid 2-0 victory over Donegal Celtic. While the result was pleasing, it will have been more useful as an opportunity for Sean Connor to looks at some potential signings. 

Gary Curran most likely was the oldest player on the field, at the grand old age of 23. Curran led by example, putting the away side ahead inside the the first ten minutes. The ball fell to the Sligo native who shot past the advancing "Wee Hoops" keeper from the left side of the area into the far corner of the net.

A good move started by an interception from South Korean centre-half, Yob Son, one of four of his countrymen in the squad. From the halfway he started off a move with half a dozen passes with the play ending in a good save by the DC keeper, although he needed a second attempt to claim the ball.

A rough tackle on former Manchester City youth player and Millwall loanee, Karl Moore, who broke into the UCD side during last season, resulted in a free 30 yards out. Curran floated it in but it narrowly cleared the crossbar.

United's defence was generally solid, save for a couple of incidents when Celtic broke through, but enough was done to prevent Winn from being unduly troubled at any stage. Winn was called upon to pluck a couple crosses from the air, though he never looked anything but confident. Winn was at full stretch for a well hit attempt on goal, but seemed to have had it well covered as it flashed past the outside of the post.

Not long after, a Celtic forward found space to shoot from 10 yards but Stephen Walsh was in close attendance and did enough to see the shot clear the crossbar by a couple of feet.

The second half saw eight changes being made at various times. The local quintet of Keogh, Smith, Kelly, McInerney and Neal Keane were introduced along with the remaining trio of the overseas trialists being given the once over by Sean Connor. Seok Beom Kim and Kwangjai Choi were introduced the midfield and forward lines respectively, as well as Mexican native Ricardo Raugel.

The second goal came from a break down the left by Moore, who continued his good work from the first half, drawing two defenders and cutting it back to Feeney who curled a shot from outside the box the far corner. The keeper was only able to palm it away into the path of Gary Kelly, who poked it home, putting some more daylight between the teams.

Shane Keogh was lively in attack, running at the defence a number of times and was accurate from dead balls but the forward line were unable to capitalise on them.

The changes in the second period along with a heavy pitch may well have contributed to a break down in the flow of the game, but some urgency returned in the dying minutes, but there was little in terms on meaningful attacks.

United continue their preparations for the 2011 as they are once again hosted by Northern Irish opposition in the form of IFA Championship title-chasers, PSNI, tomorrow afternoon at 2.30pm.

A number of the trialists who featured against Donegal Celtic are expected to be given another chance to impress.

Galway United: Conor Winn, Thiago, Yob Son, Keith Duffy, Stephen Walsh, Jin Gu Kim, Gary Curran, Eduardo, Karl Moore, Steve Feeney, Santos
Substitutes (All used): Shane Keogh, Seok Beom Kim, Kwangjai Choi, Paul Smith, Gary Kelly, Neal Keane, Shane McInerney, Ricardo A. Raugel.