League Report: Shamrock Rovers 4-2 Galway United

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Shamrock Rovers set up a potential winner-takes-all European play-off with Derry City next Tuesday as they steamrolled past Galway United in an entertaining game at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening.

 

A 4-2 win thanks to strikes from Sean Boyd, Sean Heaney, Gary McCabe and an own goal saw the Hoops overtake the Candystripes into third place ahead of the showdown at the Brandywell.

 

Rovers had to do it the hard way as they were twice pegged back by a spirited Galway outfit, but they ran out comfortable winners on a day when the conditions hampered both sides' efforts to play a positive brand of football.

 

The game started slowly as both sides attempted to get to grips with a heavy southerly wind, which blew towards the away side’s goal in the first half after Rovers won the toss. The game burst to life unexpectedly after 18 minutes.

 

The Galway defence were already have trouble clearing their lines into the wind, but the strong breeze was also making it hard to judge forward passes from the Hoops, and it was a long ball that led to the game's first flashpoint.

 



Armin Aganovic misjudged the flight of a ball over the top and Dean Clarke used his considerable pace to race in behind. The ball sat up just outside the box and the Rovers player attempted to dink the ball over Sam Ramsbottom in the United goal.

 

The summer signing from Tranmere Rovers did well to raise his arms high and stop the shot, but he appeared to have stepped out of his area by the time he did so, and he was fortunate referee Sean Grant didn't see it the same way.

 

Galway broke at pace and they went close to taking the lead themselves as a cross-shot from Gary Shanahan caught Dave Webster flat-footed, and the defender was grateful to keeper Barry Murphy for sparing him the indignity of an own goal.

 



It wasn't long before another defensive howler did lead to a goal, and it was the home side who took advantage. Stephen Folan's overhit backpass was miscontrolled by Ramsbottom, and his clearance ended up with Sean Boyd, who showed impressive technique to volley home first-time.

 

The Tribesmen struck back just after the half-hour as Rovers' narrow three-man defence left space for Ryan Connolly to pick an intelligent line and Paul Sinnott laid it on a plate for him to smash the ball past Murphy to level the scores.

 

Parity lasted just three minutes however, as a seemingly misdirected cross from Gary McCabe was allowed bounce by the Galway rearguard and came back off the post with the unfortunate Ramsbottom fumbling the ball into his own net.

 

United should have equalised barely a minute into the second half as Rovers' defensive indecision allowed Connolly's cross to make its way to far post, where Enda Curran should have put it the right side of the post to make it 2-2.

 

The equaliser wasn't long in coming however, as Trevor Clarke dawdled on the ball on the edge of his own box and was hustled off the ball by Connolly, who finished impressively past Murphy.

 

Once more, Galway just couldn't hang onto parity as barely 90 seconds after they had scored, they gave away a needless corner and, from the set-piece, Sean Heaney rose unchallenged to head past Ramsbottom.

 

And Rovers weren't finished as Gary Shaw broke quickly after a Galway free-kick was easily cleared, and a three-man overlap materialised that ended with the flawless McCabe side-footing home to make it four. It was McCabe’s tenth goal of the season and his 40th league goal for the Hoops.

 

Galway thought they had managed a consolation goal deep into injury time as Connolly's free kick was headed home by substitute Padraic Cunningham – recently returned from a serious knee injury – but play was called back for an offside.

 

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; David Webster, Rob Cornwall (Stephen McPhail 54), Sean Heaney; Simon Madden, Gary McCabe, Pat Cregg, James Doona (Gary Shaw 46), Trevor Clarke; Sean Boyd (Aaron Bolger 83).

Subs not used: Michael Quinn (gk), David O'Connor, Shane Hanney, Aaron Dobbs.

Booked: Sean Heaney (62).

 

Galway United: Sam Ramsbottom; Colm Horgan, Armin Aganovic, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Alex Byrne (Padraic Cunningham 68), Paul Sinnott, Ryan Connolly, Gary Shanahan (Conor Melody 79), Kevin Devaney; Enda Curran (Vinny Faherty 68).

Subs not used: Conor Winn (gk), Killian Cantwell, Stephen Walsh, Jesse Devers.

Booked: Colm Horgan (28).

 

Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford).

Attendance: 1,434 (official).

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Gary McCabe (Shamrock Rovers).