SHAMROCK ROVERS seem set to finally secure their first Airtricity League title in sixteen years next week, after their main title challengers Bohemians fell short last night in their own attempt to grab the silverware.

Bohs – who led the league by a point with two matches to play ahead of last night’s games – were off-form and struggled to have their own way against a determined Galway United side in Terryland, coming out the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline.

Jason Molloy was the hero for the home side, with his brace – capped by a late winner – being the key for the Tribesmen as they gave their home crowd something to cheer in their last home fixture of the season.

Bohemians, who could have clinched the title with a victory if Shamrock Rovers were to continue their own bad run of form at home to Drogheda, dominated possession but were simply unable to stamp their own authority on the clash as they sought to secure their third successive league title.

Indeed, they had had to come from behind twice in the first half alone to stand 2-2 at half-time, while they had struggled to make the best of their chances with a series of golden chances being put wide or over the crossbar.

Rovers, meanwhile, had continued their out-of-sorts form in the opening half of their clash, with the crowd in Tallaght becoming increasingly rapturous with the news of each Galway goal and unsettling their own side as a result.

It was only in the second half – where Galway had failed to score until the death – that Rovers were able to gain composure and get the better of their visitors, ending a streak of three consecutive losses in an eventually emphatic manner that all but assures their success.

Standing two points – and four goals – ahead of Bohs, Rovers will secure the title in next Friday’s final round of fixtures with victory away to strugglers Bray Wanderers, while a draw could still be enough as long as Bohemians do not beat mid-table Dundalk by three clear goals.