- Macdara Ferris
- Sun, Sep 07 2014
Galway’s 3-0 win in Tallaght Stadium on Sunday has cemented their hold on their play-off position as they bid for promotion into the Premier Division. Shamrock Rovers’ B team were undone by well taken Galway goals, with Jake Keegan scoring either side of Gary Shanahan’s strike.
Colin Hawkins took the opportunity to bring some of Pat Fenlon’s Premier Division squad into his Rovers starting XI; However the Hoops couldn’t make it four First Division league wins in a row as Galway’s main players like Keegan, Ryan Connolly and Colm Horgan put in excellent performances to ensure Galway FC’s first win in Tallaght.
It was this was the first time in 11 games, going back to the start of June, for Hawkins to draft some Premier Division players into his team.
Goalkeeper Craig Hyland, yet to line out in the Premier Division this season, was making his third appearance in the First Division. Rob Cornwall in front of him was starting for the second time with Hawkins’ team.
The Hoops spine was also strengthened with striker Ciarán Kilduff playing for the first time with Rovers in this division, as Hawkins made five changes from the team who won away in Finn Park last week.
Connolly put in a man-of-the-match winning performance for Galway from full back where he contributed both going forward and in defence.
It was his in-swinging free kick on seven minutes that was his team’s first chance of the game. He played it around the wall and bouncing in front of a number of inrushing players, Hyland did well to push the ball out with a strong hand diving to his right.
Horgan was always looking to get forward and his cross on 16 minutes into the box drifted very close to Hyland's right hand post as the Hoops goalkeeper scrambled across his line.
When Horgan played another dangerous ball into the box minutes later, it is well dealt with by Rovers' Swiss defender Max Vuille, who headed the ball back safely into Hyland's hands.
The Hoops have had difficulties defending set pieces at crucial times this season and were glad of the experience of Cornwall at centre half just after the half an hour mark. Barrett got forward from the back for a Galway free-kick and got a shot away on the turn when the ball dropped for him requiring a timely Cornwall block.
Two headers were the difference in Galway taking a half time lead. First up the Hoops were unlucky not to score when Heaney powered a header against the crossbar. The Rovers defender up for a corner at the back post was picked out by Daniel Purdy with an in-swinging cross.
Seven minutes from the break, the Tribesmen broke the deadlock. Connolly’s deep cross from the left found Gary Shanahan at the back post. His header beat Hyland bouncing towards the line before Keegan tapped it home into the empty net.
While Kilduff went close a minute into first half injury time, it was Galway who scored one minute into the second period through Shanahan from a Jason Molloy cross. The former Mervue man didn’t stop when some of his teammates were shouting for a handball in the Rovers box and he calmly slotted home the ball at the back post.
Jack Watson did his best to get the Hoops back into the game. Within a couple of minutes he had shot with his right that he couldn’t get on target and when he did get the ball goalwards, Horgan was on hand to clear off the line.
Ryan Doolin had made a number of strong challenges in midfield throughout the game and when he went in referee’s Simon Rogers book on 61 minutes for a tackle on Marc Ludden, Hawkins moved quickly to remove the player from the pitch.
Cian Kavanagh replaced Doolin and brought more penetration to Rovers’ play. On 72 minutes, he ghosted by two Galway midfielders driving into their half and shooting. The ball dipped right at the feet of Conor Gleeson who did well to control and hang onto the ball.
While Purdy shot wide when Hoops captain Chris Lyons’ backheeled beautifully into his path, 12 minutes from time Keegan wrapped up the win. He ran onto a Paul Sinnott ball over the a static Rovers defence and pushed the ball past the advancing Hyland with his left foot to score. It was his second of the game and his tenth of the campaign.
The victory leaves Tommy Dunne’s men sitting in third spot in the First Division table five points clear of Wexford Youths with four league games remaining.
Galway have a chance of possibly catching one of the teams above them but not both. With a gap of seven points to league leaders Longford Town, Shelbourne six point above them will be their immediate target and Galway will travel to Tolka Park in the penultimate game of the season.
Shamrock Rovers B: Conor Hyland; Maxime Vuille, Robert Cornwall, Sean Heaney, Evan Osam; Adam Whelan (Dylan Kavanagh 30), Ryan Doolin (Cian Kavanagh 64), Jack Watson (Gavin Boyne 77), Daniel Purdy; Chris Lyons; Ciarán Kilduff.?
Subs not used: Conor O'Malley, Alan Kehoe, Nathan Browne, Mark Sanford.
Booked: Ryan Doolin (61), Jack Watson (68).
Galway FC: Conor Gleeson; Colm Horgan, Stephen Walsh, Paddy Barrett, Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan (Conor Barry 89), Paul Sinnott, Ryan Connolly (Robbie Egan 86), Jason Molloy; Jake Keegan (Padraic Cunningham 91),?Vinny Faherty.
Subs not used: Ger Hanley, Alex Byrne, Martin Conneely, Cormac Raftery.
Bookings: Paddy Barrett (62).
Referee: Simon Rogers.
Attendance: 200 (estimate).
Extratime Man of the Match: Colm Horgan (Galway FC).
