Shamrock Rovers 4
Galway United 2
Updated 22:38
SHAMROCK ROVERS STRETCHED their unbeaten league run against Galway United to 24 games tonight and moved up to third in the table as they ran out 4-2 winners in a blustery Tallaght Stadium.
The Hoops were looking for their third win over Galway this season, and they were ahead with 24 minutes on the clock thanks to Sean Boyd.
He finished well after an awkward back pass put Galway goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom under pressure, with the ball eventually breaking to the young striker on the edge of the box.
Both Ryan Connolly and Gary Shanahan had already carved out half chances for the visitors by that stage, and the former had his side level just after the half hour mark when he drove a low strike past Barry Murphy.
The conditions were making life difficult at the back for Galway, and they were undone for a second time four minutes after they equalised when Gary McCabe’s cross from the right travelled all the way through to the back post and in via what appeared to be a rebound off the post that hit Ramsbottom.
The second half, at least the first quarter of an hour or so, went by without much happening, but when Connolly out-muscled Trevor Clarke to run on to a long ball, he finished beautifully with the outside of his left boot, to draw the visitors level.
What was needed from Tommy Dunne’s side after that was some composure, but, just as was the case in the first half, they were behind again soon after levelling proceedngs.
This time it was Sean Heaney who powered a header in off the post from McCabe’s corner kick, and the latter made it 4-2 the next time Rovers attacked when he finished off a sweeping move involving Boyd and Dean Clarke.
Robert Cornwall having to go off due to injury for Rovers after 54 minutes certainly had an impact on the game, with the Tallaght side moving to a 4-3-3 formation, and they looked much more balanced with a midfield trio of McCabe, Pat Cregg and Stephen McPhail.
The win moves Rovers up to third as Derry City lost out to Dundalk tonight, meanwhile Galway remain in midtable.
Shamrock Rovers: Murphy, Cornwall (McPhail, 54), Webster, Heaney, Madden, McCabe, Cregg, T Clarke, D Clarke, Boyd (Bolger, 83), Doona (Shaw, 46).
Subs not used: Quinn, O’Connor, Hanney, Dobbs.
Galway United: Ramsbottom, Horgan, Aganovic, Folan, Ludden, Byrne (Cunningham, 68), Sinnott, Shanahan (Melody, 79), Devaney, Connolly, Curran (Faherty, 68).
Subs not used: Winn, Cantwell, Devers, Walsh.
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