BUCKLEY OG SINKS TRIBE
GALWAY UTD... 1 SHAMROCK RVS 2
A FREAK own-goal from the boot of Garry Buckley ultimately handed the Hoops victory in Galway after a tough test against their unlikely European rivals.
Only goal difference separated the sides before the kick-off and it had been difficult to part them this season.
Rovers had won in Galway 1-0 in March and the sides drew twice in Tallaght in summer.
The Hoops started this one the better.
They held the ball well while United looked to break quickly when they won it back.
The league’s player of the month, Patrick Hickey, drove forward in the 10th minute and got a shot off that was saved by Leon Pohls.
Other than that, it was all Rovers.
Dan Cleary had a header off the bar after a Josh Honohan cross.
Jack Byrne and Dylan Watts combined beautifully to set Marc McNulty clear.
Angle
Brendan Clarke narrowed the angle and blocked out for a corner.
A minute later, McNulty had his goal after a mixup in the United defence.
There were then big chances to make it two as Rovers put their foot on the throttle.
Roberto Lopes, Josh Honohan and McNulty were close with free effortds inside the area as Rovers dominated the ball and territory.
But this mattered little when United drew level.
Conor McCormack converted a penalty won after a rare attack on the right which saw Cleary called, maybe a little harshly, for handball.
McNulty had the chance in the half after a sublime ball by Byrne but the striker glanced wide when he should have tested Clarke at least.
There was drama too at the end of the half. Cleary was lucky to avoid red after taking Ed McCarthy out and leaving something on Greg Cunningham in the ruck after.
The second half settled down.
Shamrock Rovers shaded it but struggled to create chances.
They could bring on Johnny Kenny and Danny Mandroiu halfway through the second who made an immediate impact.
Galway’s own international, Cunningham, nearly created for his side when he did brilliantly down the left but no one could meet his cutback.
At the other end, Byrne continued to pull the strings as he popped up all over the park and teased in some crafty crosses.
Mandroiu showed his class to carve an opening in the last ten minutes but his shot from the edge of the box flashed wide.
Johnny Kenny was played in over the top, he flirted with the offside line but was waved on.
He put pressure on Garry Buckley who tried to clear but somehow scooped over his ‘keeper and sent it in.
It was the 85 th minute at this point and there didn’t seem to be much in the tank of the home team.
They lacked options off the bench up front but still pressed. They needed a set-piece and Hickey was close with a header that was well saved.
Bobby Burns combined with Stephen Walsh but his shot was well stopped by Pohls which proved enough in the end.
GALWAY UNITED: Clarke 7; Esua 5 (Horgan 12 6, Burns 89 N/A), Buckley 6, Brouder 7, Cunningham 7; Keohane 7, Borden 7 (Hurley 72 6), McCormack 7 (O’ Keeffe 72 6), Hickey 8, McCarthy 8 (Slevin 89 N/A); Walsh 7.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Pohls 7; Farrugia 8, Cleary 6, Lopes 7, Hoare 6 (Clarke 75 6), Honohan 6 (Grace 80 6); Towell 7 (Kenny 65 7), O’ Neill 7 (Burns 80 6), Watts 7; Byrne 8, McNulty 7 (Mandroiu 65 6).
Referee: N Doyle 5
POTM: Jack Byrne