Galway U 2 Shamrock Rovers 3:SHAMROCK ROVERS were forced to come from behind to secure a critical win at the end of a weird and wacky encounter at Terryland Park yesterday.
Galway United have lost 22 matches on the spin now, but they still examined the Hoops credentials during a lively encounter.
The Tribesmen certainly deserve some plaudits for their energetic approach, but Rovers craved three points and they accomplished that mission.
Galway, through good fortune and honest endeavour, went in at the break on terms having made a surprising recovery following the concession of a soft goal.
By that stage the Hoops had already paraded their ability as despite making five changes from the team that had drawn with Partizan Belgrade in Thursday’s Europa League qualifier there was still plenty of Rovers talent on the park. Gary O’Neill, one of those returning to the starting XI, was eager to make an impression and with only seconds played was denied by an important block by Galway defender Yob Son after goalkeeper Conor Winn had strayed from his line. Moments later ONeill released Ronan Finn, but Galway survived another real scare as his shot drifted wide.
On a rare visit into Rovers territory Alan Murphy had an effort saved by Ryan Thompson, but the visitors were firmly in the ascendancy and they netted in the 16th minute.
Ciarán Kilduff, chased a seemingly lost cause and knocked Son off the ball, and then fed Finn, who provided a blistering finish to rattle the Galway net. Kilduff should have stretched Rovers advantage shortly after the half hour mark and Galway responded following that reprieve.
The hosts equalised when Rovers’ central defenders Dan Murray and Craig Sives didn’t adequately deal with a routine Murphy delivery, and Galway substitute Mikey Gilmore reacted promptly tucking a sweet strike past Thompson. Somehow Galway were on terms, but they lived dangerously in the closing minutes of the opening period as Rovers went back on the front foot.
However, Galway took a shock lead two minutes after the restart when Eric Browne climbed highest in the area to head home a Stephen Walsh corner.
That Galway advantage only lasted a mere four minutes as parity was restored on 51 when a long Sullivan throw located Sives, who equalised. Buoyed by Sives contribution the Hoops then pounced again in the 57th minute when Kilduff supplied the final touch after Sheppard headed the ball across goal.
There were further chances for Rovers but Winn and the woodwork ensured another goal wasn’t added.
GALWAY UNITED: Winn; Preston-Kelly, Browne, Son, Holland; Kim (Sibanda, 88), Sinnott, G Kelly, Walsh (Ryan, 68); Murphy, Collins (Gilmore, 29).
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Thompson; Sullivan, Sives, Murray, Stevens; Sheppard, Turner, Finn, Moore (McCabe, 61); Kilduff (Dennehy, 66), ONeill (Twigg, 79). Att: 930.
Referee: A Kelly (Cork).
