Holohan the hat-trick hero for Galway

Galway United 4 Drogheda United 1

Gavan Holohan scored a superb hat-trick against one of his former clubs to give Galway United’s hopes of avoiding the drop a massive boost.

The 25-year old struck twice in the opening half and then completed his hat-trick 10 minutes from time after Drogheda United had pulled a goal back.

Holahan struck for the opening goal with a sublime shot from the edge of the box to the top left corner after 17 minutes.

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He scored an even better goal five minutes later when he cracked a 30-yard effort into the top right corner.

Galway squandered chances to wrap it up after the restart as they were unable to find the target.

And it looked like they might pay a heavy price when Drogheda sub Stephen Elliot headed home a free from Sean Brennan after 75 minutes.

But Holohan completed his hat-trick five minutes later when he finished a rebound from outside the box after Drogheda ‘keeper Stephen McGuinness had denied Eoin McCormack with his feet.

The impressive Lee Grace wrapped it up for Galway in stoppage time when he headed home their fourth.

Galway United: C Winn; C Horgan, L Grace, S Folan, M Ludden; K Devaney (G Shanahan 89), A Byrne, D Cawley, G Holohan, R Murray (C Melody 89); P Cunningham (E McCormack 71).

Drogheda United: S McGuinness; C Deasy, L Buckley, L Gallagher, C Kane; J Hyland, S Russell (S Brennan 67), A Wixted (S Elliott 58), R McEvoy (J Hollywood 78); T Byrne, C Mulhall.

Referee: James McKell (Tipperary).