Galway Utd 0 Shamrock Rovers 1: THOUGH GALWAY United gathered the plaudits at Terryland Park it was Michael O'Neill's efficient Shamrock Rovers outfit who gathered the points that keep them at the summit of the table.
Considering their deep financial difficulty with players being forced to leave the club there was an admirable resilience to the manner in which Galway competed during a lively encounter.
Eager to move the ball quickly Galway settled impressively and Derek O’Brien went close in the 15th minute, but his long distance effort went wide.
The high flying Hoops improved as the opening period evolved, and just past the half hour mark Dan Murray connected with a Craig Sives cross, but Barry Ryan saved.
Prompted by Stephen O’Donnell’s midfield subtlety Galway remained busy and O’Brien was thwarted by Alan Mannus on 34 minutes as the teams eventually departed deadlocked at the break.
Mannus then was forced to make splendid saves from Karl Sheppard and Gary Curran as Galway pressed for a goal their enterprise deserved. But the Hoops showed the ruthlessness that is required in the 62nd minute when converting an opportunity with the minimum of fuss.
Enda Stevens’s cross was precise and Gary Twigg’s header was equally clever as O’Neill’s charges hit the front.
GALWAY UNITED:Barry Ryan; Conneely, Synott, McKenzie, Meynell (Walsh, 46); Curran (King, 76), Foley, O'Donnell, O'Brien (Creaney, 80); Bobby Ryan, Sheppard.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sives, Murray, Price, Stevens; Kavanagh (Turner, 65), Rice, Bayly, Dennehy (Chambers, 55); Stewart, Twigg (Barrett, 86).
Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).
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