League Report: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 0 Galway United

Shamrock Rovers made it four wins from five Premier Division games when they beat an energetic Galway United 2-0 at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening.

The first chance of the match fell to the home side on five minutes. Simon Madden’s low cross found Pat Cregg but the central midfielder couldn’t keep the shot on target. 

Soon after the Brennan brothers combined for the Hoops next chance. Killian Brennan crossed the ball from a free kick that was needlessly given away by Galway with Gavin Brennan’s header flashing just wide.

Galway had a couple of forays forward but were blocked off with some resolute defending by the Hoops' backline and the home side went on to take an eighth-minute lead. Brandon Miele gave picked up a pocket of space on the edge of the box and swept the ball past Kevin Horgan from 20 yards for the opener.

A run down the right hand side allowed Killian Brennan to cut inside onto his favoured left foot but the attempt shot went wide without Rovers adding to their goal tally.

This seemed to awaken United as they had two quick attacks. The first was excellently blocked by David O’Connor and the second one cleared by the Rovers defence.

The Hoops then had a chance to double their lead as O'Connor got a head to Gary McCabe's corner but the defender couldn’t generate enough power to beat Horgan.

The Tribesmen then had a great chance to equalise almost immediately as they broke down the other end with a lovely cushioned volley from Vinny Faherty sailing just over the bar with Barry Murphy struggling.

The rain began to fall heavily as the half came to a close. Miele again found himself in space and crossed for Drennan who should have hit the target with a deft header. The visitors then had the last chance of the half with the ball falling to Faherty but he shot wide with the offside flag up anyway.

The switch of ends didn’t change the pattern of the game as Rovers had two quick attacks from McCabe and Dean Clarke which both tested Horgan in the Galway goal.

Galway’s first chance of the second period came to Kevin Devaney. He stung the fingers of Barry Murphy, who was making his 200^th league appearance for Rovers, who fumbled the shot but gathered at the second attempt.

The game became more open with both sides having chances to advance down the pitch. Faherty was left shaking his head in disbelief as Gary Shannahan headed the ball back across the face of goal with Murphy able to pick the ball off the striker’s head. The match then became a little loose with both teams giving the ball away needlessly.

Midway through the second half both managers brought on substitutes as they looked to change the games perspective with Tommy Dunne making a double substitution for his visiting team.

One of those replacements Ruairi Keating found himself unmarked in the box and headed inexplicably wide from a great John Sullivan cross.

The decisive goal came with two minutes to go when Paul Sinnot sliced a clearance straight to the waiting Trevor Clarke. The player, who turned 18 this week, smashed the ball past Horgan for his first senior goal and to cement the three points for Pat Fenlon’s men.

Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Maxime Blanchard, David O’Connor, Gavin Brennan; Pat Cregg, Gary McCabe (c), Killian Brennan (David Webster 89), Dean Clarke (Trevor Clarke 68); Brandon Miele, Michael Drennan (Gareth Mc Caffrey 72). 

Subs not used: Craig Hyland, Rob Cornwall, Sean Heaney, Richard Purdy. 

Booked: Simon Madden (38)

Galway United FC: Kevin Horgan; Stephen Walsh, Killian Cantwell, Gary Shannahan, Paul Sinnot; Padraic Cunningham (Ruari Keating 74), John Sullivan (Eric Foley 82), Colin Horgan, Ryan Connolly (c); Kevin Devaney, Vinnie Faherty (Enda Curran 74). 

Subs not used: Aaron Dillon, Conor Melody, Cormac Rafferty, Enda Curran, Marc Ludden, Ruari Keating. 

Booked: None.

Referee: Paul Tuite. 

Attendance: 1,711

ExtraTime.ie Man of the Match: Brandon Miele (Shamrock Rovers).

You can see a selection of images from the game, as taken by Peter Fitzpatrick and Eoin Smith, here.