Kilduff gets Hoops out of jail

SHAMROCK ROVERS joined Derry City at the top of the Airtricity League Premier Division last night, but not without a major scare at the home of basement side Galway.

Michael O’Neill’s side had to come from a goal down early in the second half in Terryland Park to secure a 3-2 win which sees them headed by Derry only on goal difference.

The visitors made five changes to the side which drew with Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League on Thursday night, with former Galway United players Karl Moore and Karl Sheppard coming into the side along with Chris Turner, Gary O’Neill and Ciaran Kilduff.

The Hoops started brightly, and took the lead in the 16th minute when Ronan Finn fired an unstoppable shot past Conor Winn in the United goal after good work from Ciaran Kilduff.

The visitors had plenty of chances to add to their lead and were made to rue those when the home side equalised in the 34th minute.

Dan Murray and Craig Sives collided as they tried to cut out Alan Murphy’s pass, the ball fell for Mikey Gilmore who beat Ryan Thompson at his near post from 20 yards.

It was goal the Tribesmen deserved for their efforts, but better was to come when they took a shock lead two minutes after the restart as Eric Browne sent a glancing header across Thompson and inside the far post from a Stephen Walsh corner.

That jolted the reigning champions into action, and they were level within four minutes, Pat Sullivan’s long throw from the right finding Sives at the near post, and he headed home from close range.

And Rovers got the winner six minutes later when United failed to deal with Ronan Finn’s ball into the box, Sheppard headed the ball towards goal and Kilduff was on hand to force the ball home on the line.

Meanwhile, Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook was left singing the praises of striker Eoin Doyle after his 38th-minute goal put the Westerners right back in Premier Division title contention following Saturday’s 1-0 victory over UCD at the Belfield Bowl.

It was Doyle’s 17th league goal of the season and it secured a first win in four league games for Sligo.

Cook said: “The lad’s movement is ridiculous. I think Eoin will have a great future in the game.

“The movement he has in the box is as good as you will see in Ireland. He is fantastic.

“Now we are back on the shirt tails of where we want to be after this win. I am absolutely delighted and I cannot speak highly enough of the players.’’

The win should put Cook’s team in the right mood for tomorrow night’s EA Sports Cup semi-final against Derry City at the Brandywell.