Report: Galway Utd 0 - 2 Shamrock Rovers

Shamrock Rovers regained second spot with a clinical victory over Galway Utd at Terryland Park on Saturday night. Strikes from Dessie Baker and Stephen Rice sealed the win and kept Galway winless from their opening four fixtures.

The large travelling contingent were in healthy voice early on, but it was the hosts who controlled matters on the park in the opening quarter despite lining up without seven potential starters, with Ciaran Foley and Vinny Faherty making their first starts. Faherty provided Cousins side with a much needed aerial threat, flicking on for Mark Leech in the fourth minute only for the ball to get stuck under the striker’s feet on the heavy surface.

Galway were pressing the visitors high up the park, and Faherty went close again in the 14th minute. He laid the ball off for John Russell to find space on the right. Russell’s cross was met by in-rushing Faherty, but Barry Murphy positioning was first class as he tipped the ball over the bar.

The home fans were enthused by the start, but in the blink of an eye Rovers struck for the lead goal. Baker’s flick on found Eoin Doyle, who galloped at the United back four. When the tackle arrived, the ball deflected into Baker’s path, and he applied a classy finish from 12 yards as Gary Rogers rushed from his line.

It could have been worse for the home side within a minute. Again Doyle found space on the right, and his pass located Alan Murphy. Fortunately for the home side, their former employee couldn’t find the target from eight yards.

Galway were soon forced into a change as Wes Charles succumbed to injury and was replaced by Seamus Conneely. Faherty then took advantage of a rare mistake by Darragh Maguire to find himself one on one with Murphy, but again the keeper denied the striker with a super save.

Rovers were presented with a gilt-edged chance when Fenn’s slip let Murphy race clear through the middle, but Rogers kept his side in it with a fine block with his legs. The visitors did eventually make it 2-0 twelve minutes into the 2nd half. Baker’s knock-on fell invitingly into the path of skipper Rice, who blasted home from the left side of the area.

Cousins' side needed a spark, but with no attacking options on the bench, only a switch of Russell to centre midfield could be made to instil some creativity. A comeback never materialised and Baker could have added another late on but shot wide. United's night was summed up when Derek O’Brien got into a good position then proceeded to blaze his cross wildly into the terraces.

Galway United(4-4-2): Gary Rogers; Regillio Nooitmeer, Wes Charles (Seamus Conneely 21), Ollie Fenn, Marc McCulloch (Alan Keane 60); John Russell, Gary Deegan, Ciaran Foley (Stephen Cunningham 60), Derek O’Brien; Mark Leech, Vinny Faherty.
Subs Not Used: Alvin Rouse, Jonathan Keane.

Booked: McCulloch, Deegan, Fenn.

Shamrock Rovers(4-4-2): Barry Murphy; Ger O’Brien, Darragh Maguire, Barry Ferguson, Danny O‘Connor; Eoin Doyle (John Martin 69), Eric McGill, Stephen Rice, Sean O’Connor (Robbie Creevy 85); Alan Murphy (Tadhg Purcell 55), Dessie Baker.
Subs not used: Corie Tracey, Karl Coleman.

Booked: Rice.

Referee: Dave McKeon.
Attendance: 1,625
Man of the Match: Dessie Baker (Shamrock Rovers).