Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Galway United
By Jamie Moore @ Tallaght Stadium
Shamrock Rovers made it four wins from their opening five league games thanks to this 2-0 over Galway United at Tallaght Stadium.
Brandon Miele got the opener in the 8th minute before sub Trevor Clarke made the points safe with two minutes to go.
Miele been a key player for Rovers this season and proved it again with an excellent left-footed shot from just outside box.
After scoring that brilliant free-kick in Sligo, Miele was at it again. He cut inside to smash his left footed shot into the bottom corner from outside the box.
Galway’s first chance came after 20 minute and it fell to Padraic Cunningham, after Kevin Devaney robbed Simon Madden at the corner flag, his cross dropped the Cunningham, it was David O’Connor with an important block.
Vinny Faherty has been in great form for The Tribesmen so far this season, his volley from Gary Shanahan’s cross just wouldn’t dip quickly enough as Galway pushed for an equaliser.
Dean Clarke and Miele again went close before The Hoops really should have made it 2-0 just before the break, but Mikey Drennan headed Miele’s perfect cross wide.
And then Galway had a header of their own right on half-time, John Sullivan’s effort was tipped away by a diving Barry Murphy.
Rovers started the second half brightly, Gary McCabe and Clarke both tested Horgan but it was the away team who looked the more likely to score.
Galway’s first effort of the second period came to Devaney, the wet surface almost worked to his advantage, Murphy just about held onto his low shot.
Devaney's cross then set up Faherty, whose header bounced off the top of the crossbar.
Tommy Dunne changed his strikers with fifteen minutes left, Enda Curran and Ruari Keating came on for Faherty and Cunningham and it was Keating who missed their best opportunity to take a point back down the motorway.
Sullivan sent Shanahan racing down the line, his first time cross picked out the unmarked Keating, his header didn’t hit the target.
They were made to rue those missed chances after Paul Sinnott’s sliced clearance dropped to Clarke who finished from close range with two minutes remaining.
That’s 12 points from 15 for Shamrock Rovers, they sit third in the table just a point behind Dundalk and Derry who have both played a game more.
Shamrock Rovers – Barry Murphy; Simon Madden, Max Blanchard, David O’Connor, Gavin Brennan; Killian Brennan (Dave Webster, 89), Pat Cregg, Gary McCabe, Dean Clarke (Trevor Clarke, 69); Brandon Miele; Mikey Drennan (Gareth McCaffrey, 73).
Galway United – Kevin Horgan; Colm Horgan, Paul Sinnott, Kilian Cantwell, Stephen Walsh; Gary Shanahan, John Sullivan (Eric Foley, 83), Ryan Connolly, Kevin Devaney; Vinny Faherty (Enda Curran, 75), Padraic Cunningham (Ruari Keating, 75).
Referee – Paul Tuite (Dublin)
Hear from Shamrock Rovers manager Pat Fenlon on Now That’s What I Call Sport on Sunday from 9am
