Galway dent Shamrock Rovers' title charge

First half goals by Jimmy Keohane and Aaron Bolger gave Galway United victory over Shamrock Rovers

Aaron Bolger scored Galway United's second goal against Shamrock Rovers. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom Maher

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 2 Shamrock Rovers 0

Shamrock Rovers’ title charge suffered a setback as Galway United claimed a 2-0 Premier Division victory at Eamonn Deacy Park.

The Hoops kicked off with intent showing early signs of their credentials as champions elect, but it was the home crowd who were on their feet inside two minutes when a McCarthy throw-in was headed into the path of Aaron Bolger whose drilled shot was saved low by Ed McGinty, but the rebound fell perfectly into the path of Galway captain Jimmy Keohane who smashed home to score his seventh goal of the season and give the Tribesmen an early first-half lead.

Rovers appeared unfazed as they gradually took control once more, the Hoops forcing their best chance of the game when a Dylan Watts corner was knocked into the path of O’Sullivan but his left-footed shot fired low at goal but was well saved by Hugo Pires Da Cunha. 

As the clock counted down Galway would have been relieved to go into the break with a one-goal advantage, but deja-vu struck in Deacy Park when another McCarthy throw wasn’t dealt with by Rovers, Bolger again first to react as he struck a beautiful left-footed volley past McGinty to double the Tribesmen’s lead and make it 2-0 heading into half-time.

Bradley was visibly unhappy, the introduction of Adam Brennan and Jonathan Afolabi illustrating his side’s intent to battle their way back into the game with their league title ambitions firmly on the line. Despite an early scare when a McCarthy throw was yet again struck at goal by Bolger, the Hoops had the first big chance at goal when a Watts strike was well blocked by a busy Hugo Da Cunha.

The tension grew palpable as Rovers launched attack after attack, but it was Galway who came closest to finding the net once more when Bolger ran the length of the pitch with Twardek and McCarthy advancing on either side, the Galway goalscorer instead unleashing an audacious strike at goal which forced a fantastic save by McGinty to keep his side in the game.

Bradley emptied his bench as his side desperately sought a way back into the game, and they almost pulled one back when Afolabi pounced in the box late on but was again denied by the outstanding Hugo Da Cunha, summing up an industrious defensive display as the Tribesmen held on to beat Shamrock Rovers for the first time in 20 years.

Galway United: Da Cunha; Barratt, Facchineri, O’Connor, Devitt, Bolger, Hurley, Keohane, Twardek, McCarthy (Wolfe 81’), Walsh (Connolly 88’).

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Sobowale, Lopes, Cleary (Grant 77’), Grace, Mulraney (Afolabi 45’), Healy (Brennan 45’), Watts, O’Sullivan (Fitzgerald 65’), Burke, McGovern.

Referee: Damien MacGraith