Below-par Albion were hustled and harried to their first defeat of pre-season on Ireland's west coast last night.

But they will not be placing too much importance against a 2-0 defeat to Galway United, probably the best and certainly the most competitive outfit they will face on their three-match tour.

Billy Clery's penalty just after the break and a counter-attack strike by Ollie Keogh on 81 minutes gave the hosts the satisfaction of victory before a crowd of around 500 at Galwegians rugby ground.

Albion did not produce their best spell until they were two down but, two-thirds of the way through a gruelling week of training and matches, perhaps it was hardly surprising they were lacking a little sparkle.

All the same, they looked like they might sneak a win until Galway were presented with their spot-kick bonus.

Kerry Mayo was the offender, his clumsy challenge sending Derek O'Brien sprawling, and Clery confidently side-footed into the bottom corner.

Almost immediately, Will Packham had to block bravely from Neil Keane's volley and for much of the second half it seemed only the penalty would stand between the sides.

Then, in a hectic spell, substitute Scott Ramsay almost grabbed an equaliser before Galway sprang straight to the other end for Darragh Sheridan's low cross to set up Keogh's tap-in.

That finished the contest, although in a spirited finale, Nathan Jones fired a great chance just over the bar and Ramsay's terrific volley forced the save of the night from substitute keeper Eddie Hickey.

The poor state of the pitch certainly did Albion no favours as they tried to stitch together a passing game.

But there still bonuses, including Ramsay's performance after coming off the bench and a typically robust display from Danny Cullip, who was first to everything at the heart of Albion's defence.

Cullip's steel came in very useful in what was a pretty physical tussle, but Seagulls shaded the first half and should have gone ahead.

Warren Aspinall volleyed over inside three minutes and Galway's first-choice keeper David Ford somehow kept out Matt Russell's diving header.

He also got down well to low shots from Russell and Mayo just before the break, only for Mayo's intervention in that same penalty area on 47 minutes to send Albion heading to defeat.

Albion: Packham, Watson (sub Andrews 64) Mayo, Cullip, Carr (sub McPherson 60), Melton (sub Davis 45), Brooker (sub Thomas 45) Rogers, Steele, Russell (sub Ramsay 60) Aspinall (sub Jones 60). Unused subs Kuipers, Crosby, Carpenter, Oatway.