Twigg keeps Rovers on top

Galway United 0 Shamrock Rovers 1

Gary Twigg’s seventh league goal of the season saw Shamrock Rovers labour to a 1-0 win at Galway United to stay top of the table.

Rovers struggled to impose their game on a game Galway side, who shaded the first half.

Having said that, Rovers had the only half chance of the opening period on 20 minutes when Twigg got in behind onto Aidan Price’s long ball out of defence only to blaze over the top.

Galway had a right go on the resumption and Rovers had keeper Alan Mannus to thank for keeping them in the game.

First Karl Sheppard brought a terrific save from Mannus with a super header from Ciaran Foley’s diagonal ball into the area on 53 minutes.

Two minutes later Stephen O’Donnell picked out Gary Curran whose stunning first time volley was brilliantly parried away by Mannus at his near post.

But Galway's pressure counted for nothing as Rovers struck for the only goal of the game on 62 minutes when Twigg was left unmarked at the back post to head home left-back Enda Stevens' deep cross.