Shamrock Rovers 3
Galway United 0
Niall Kelly reports from Tallaght Stadium
ONCE A VILLAIN, now the Hoops’ hero.
Mikey Drennan enjoyed a very good Friday as Shamrock Rovers kept the pressure on champions Dundalk at the top of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
With the leaders not in action until Saturday night, Drennan’s double closed the gap to just one point and kept the unbeaten Hoops in touch with the early pace.
His second, deflected past Galway keeper Conor Winn in the 68th minute, secured the points on a night when Rovers weren’t always their most impressive.
The former Aston Villa man could have capped the night in style had he finished a glorious hat-trick chance a minute later, but shot at Winn from a tight angle.
Brandon Miele did get Rovers’ third late on with a thumping finish in stoppage time after he came off the bench to make his debut.
Pat Fenlon will be pleased to get back to winning ways having watched his side held at home by both Cork City and Bohemians already this season.
The Hoops’ main goal threat Danny North was ruled out as he continues to struggle with a knee injury but Drennan proved himself to be more than capable as his replacement.
Ryan Brennan, Gavin Brennan and Kieran Marty Waters returned as Fenlon looked to freshen things up following last week’s Dublin derby stalemate.
Galway were missing both Sam Oji and Stephen Walsh to suspension with American Kevin Garcia and Mark Ludden — who was sent off for a second yellow with 13 minutes to play — replacing them at the back, while Paul Sinnott started in midfield.
Rovers immediately looked to take advantage of any defensive uncertainty and Drennan might have opened the scoring as early as the third minute. Simon Madden’s long ball found him in behind the defence but his shot was too close to Winn who made a smart stop.
The visitors arrived in Tallaght with just one win from their opening five games but they immediately set about pressing Rovers, and forced them backwards.
But Rovers’ aerial approach paid dividends and led to the game’s opening goal in the 18th minute.
Winn will take the lion’s share of the blame. He came to cut out Madden’s long ball but pulled up, obviously in fear of handling outside his area. His hesitation allowed Gavin Brennan to nick the ball away and Drennan was there to roll it into the unguarded net.
Keith Fahey was detailed in a more advanced role and he nearly doubled Rovers’ advantage when he slid in to meet Madden’s cross, but touched it just wide.
Galway’s best chance of that first half came on 35 minutes when Jason Molloy cracked off a snapshot on the turn but Rovers keeper Craig Hyland — who impressed again with another clean sheet — was equal to it.
Fahey was unlucky not to make it 2-0 four minutes into the second half. He slalomed past two Galway defenders but pulled his shot just wide of Winn’s far post.
Galway did enough to keep the home support on edge and substitute Padraic Cunningham might have levelled matters just after the hour mark. He chested Gary Shanahan’s cross inside the box but the control was a fraction too lose and Hyland was out to smother the danger.
Drennan’s second on 68 minutes secured the points, helped on its way with a big deflection off Andy O’Connell.
Ludden was then shown his second yellow for chopping down Madden, arguably Rovers’ most dangerous threat on the night, before Miele came off the bench to bag the third.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Craig Hyland, Simon Madden, David Webster, Conor Kenna (c), David O’Connor, Patrick Cregg, Ryan Brennan (Stephen McPhail 71), Keith Fahey, Gavin Brennan (Brandon Miele 84), Mikey Drennan, Kieran Marty Waters (Sean O’Connor 71).
GALWAY: Conor Winn, Colm Horgan, Kevin Garcia, Alex Byrne, Mark Ludden, Andy O’Connell, Paul Sinnott (Cormac Raferty 90+1), Enda Curran (Padraic Cunningham 57), Gary Shanahan, Jason Molloy (Ryan Connolly 57), Jake Keegan.
Referee: Rob Rogers
