Baker plays key role for Rovers

Shamrock Rovers 3 Galway Utd 1: DESSIE BAKER bewildered Galway for the second time this season as Shamrock Rovers won for the first time in the league in three months.

Baker scored and set up the second goal for Stephen Rice in that last league victory - against bottom-of-the-table Galway back on March 29th.

And, on his first start in almost two months, the former Ireland underage international was extremely sharp and eager, playing a crucial role in all three of Rovers' goals.

It went wrong for Galway from the start as Jeff Kenna's side found themselves chasing the game from the third minute and 2-0 down five minutes later.

Baker centred a precise corner for the first, with midfielder Darragh Maguire's powerful header being deflected into his own net by Galway right back Shay Conneely.

It got worst for Galway on eight minutes from a well-worked set-piece. Baker put Seán O'Connor away down the right and his low cross to the back post was turned into his own net by Alan Keane.

James O'Shea had a goal-bound shot blocked to register Galway's first attack on 17 minutes, but Rovers remained on top.

Barry Ferguson side-footed wide from a Baker corner, Regi Nootimer blocked a Maguire shot, before Danny O'Connor brought a diving save from Gary Rogers in the Galway goal.

Galway did get a goal back against the run of play on 39 minutes when captain John Fitzgerald turned well from Mark Leech's pass to shoot beyond Barry Murphy.

Baker responded and was again instrumental in restoring Rovers' two-goal lead, playing Tadhg Purcell through on goal within four minutes and he coolly shoot past Gary Rogers.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: B Murphy; G O'Brien, Price, Ferguson, Flynn; Purcell, D O'Connor, Maguire, S O'Connor (Stapleton, 72 mins); Amond (Rice, 40 mins), Baker.

GALWAY UNITED: Rogers; Conneely, Fitzgerald, Nootimeer, A Keane (Faherty, half-time); Russell, Fenn (Lester, half-time), Deegan, O'Brien; O'Shea, Leech.

Referee: D Hancock (Dublin).