League Report: Shamrock Rovers 1 – 1 Galway United

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Galway United came within two minutes from pulling off a famous victory in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday and defeating Rovers’ first team in competitive action for the first time since 2006 but substitute Danny Mandriou rescued Rovers with a late header.

Patrick Hickey’s goal in the 74^th minute of the match looked like it would propel the Tribesman up into third spot in the table and end the Hoops’ hopes of making it five league titles in a row but the late goal still keeps Rovers somewhat in it.

The 1-1 draw reflected the fact there was very little between the sides coming into the game looking at the league table or the matches between the sides earlier in the campaign – a draw and a 1-0 away win for Rovers.

On this occasion it was the battle between fifth and sixth and two sides locked on the same number of the points and just five goals between them in goal difference. 

The Hoops have higher targets than merely making the Conference League qualifiers next season though but their chances of overhauling the teams above them in the table to take the title even with games in hand seem slim after only claiming a point.

They are ten points off top side Derry City although Rovers have two games in hand on the Candystripes.

The home side started the stronger and dominated the ball in the opening period. Stephen Bradley had made five changes from the heavy Hoops defeat to PAOK in Thessaloniki on Thursday while John Caulfield named an unchanged team from their FAI Cup penalty shoot-out exit to Shelbourne in Tolka Park last week.

However, this wasn’t an occasion that saw the Tribesmen sit deep and look to take a point away but they took the game to Rovers when they could, even if they were heavily reliant on Ed McCarthy’s long throw-in which was a potent weapon for United.

From one of those throw-ins on the left in the 21^st minute the ball came back out to Jimmy Keohane who pinged a shot off the post with Leon Pöhls beaten. It was a real let off for Rovers.

When they attacked, a cross from Dylan Watts and shots from Darragh Burns, cutting in off a defence splitting Gary O’Neill pass, and Graham Burke were all just too close to Brendan Clarke to trouble the netminder who gathered each of them with confidence.

When he was beaten five minutes before the break by a driven Jack Byrne shot, the ball bounced off the top of the United crossbar and away to safety.

The Hoops had a bit more urgency once the second period got under way. A Burns shot needed a Galway touch to take the sting out his effort with a backpedaling Clarke saving with ease.

Bradley brought on three subs in the 56th minute withdrawing the booked Honohan, Marc McNulty who had a quiet starting debut, along with Dylan Watts.

Farrugia made an immediate impact off the bench giving Rovers a more potent attacking threat on the left. In the 65^th minute his header off a deep Burns cross needed Garry Buckley to clear off the line. Moments later Byrne curled an effort just over the corner of the post and crossbar.

The winger then received the ball on the edge of the box, spun and drew a good save from Clarke diving to his left. Just before he was withdrawn, McCarthy drew an excellent save from Pöhls.

Galway weren’t to be denied though and when they broke, Stephen Walsh laid the ball off nicely to Hickey whose low shot found the back of the net off the inside of the post to send the pocket of travelling fans into delirium.

Johnny Kenny had gotten the Hoops out of trouble in both of the earlier matches between the side this season scoring six minutes from time in those two games.

On this occasion it was new re-signing Danny Mandroiu who broke Galway hearts late on to score his first on his return to Rovers and it meant that United remain without a win over Rovers for 33 matches.

The Tribesmen were thankful at the death when Farrugia's header flashed just wide but there was to be no late win for the Hoops on this occasion.

Shamrock Rovers: Leon Pöhls; Daniel Cleary, Pico Lopes, Seán Hoare; Darragh Burns, Gary O'Neill (Aaron Greene 73), Dylan Watts (Aaron McEneff 56), Joshua Honohan (Neil Farrugia 56); Jack Byrne, Marc McNulty (Daniel Mandroiu 56), Graham Burke.
Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Seán Kavanagh, Cory O'Sullivan, Markus Poom, Richard Towell.
Booked: Josh Honohan (38), Pico Lopes (60).

Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Esua (Colm Horgan 90), Killian Brouder, Garry Buckley, Greg Cunningham; Jimmy Keohane, Conor McCormack, Vincent Borden (David Hurley 71), Edward McCarthy (Bobby Burns 71); Patrick Hickey, Stephen Walsh (Karl O’Sullivan 90).
Subs not used: Jack Brady, Robert Slevin, Conor O'Keeffe, Francely Lomboto, Maurice Nugent.
Booked: None.

Referee: Gavin Colfer. 
Attendance: 3,017
extratime.com Player of the Match: Stephen Walsh (Galway United)

FAI Cup preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Shelbourne https://t.co/4IIIEoWjEYpic.twitter.com/XLjCacEu8X

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