Galway United 1 - 3 Shamrock Rovers

Terryland Park, 17th April, 2009

Some sloppy United defending afforded three points to Shamrock Rovers in Terryland. Ian Foster will not have been happy with the way his side defended and Rovers took full advantage of United's errors with Gary Twigg getting a hat-trick.

Manager Ian Foster had made two changes from their last Premier League outing against Drogheda last week, Alan Murphy making his first start for the season in place of Michael McGrath who was dropped to the bench and Seamus Conneely returning at right back.

It was a perfect start for the visitors as Twigg was given the freedom of the United penalty box to loop a delicate header over Barry Ryan in only the fourth minute from a Dessie Baker cross.

12 minutes later the Hoops went into a two goal lead to stun the home crowd. Ryan initially did well to save with his feet from a Rovers attack, the ball broke to United's Murphy who was caught in possession on the edge of the box. Baker took advantage and his deflected shot looped over Ryan and came off the angle of the goalpost. Twigg could not believe his luck when the ball rolled across the face of the goal towards him and he just tapped in from a matter of inches.
 
United tried to get back into the game and Iarfhlaith Davoren powered in a long range shot at the opposite end for the home side a few minutes later that flew just wide of Robert Duggan's left hand post with the 'keeper well beaten.

Galway's only other note worthy chance of the first half arrived shortly before the break when Jay O'Shea's quick corner found Seamus Conneely, but Derek O'Brien wasn't able to guide the pin-point delivery towards goal from close range.

Striker Declan Edwards was introduced after the break in place of Cian McBrien. Edwards added some much needed presence to the United attack and United hit back on 55 minutes. A corner from the left fell to Murphy in the box who held up the ball for Vinny Faherty who drilled home from ten yards out.

United looked the most likely to score next and were well on top. However, this revival was stopped on 63 minutes after Twigg scored his third. Ryan pulled off a fine save and from the resulting corner the ball fell to Twigg who had two attempts from close range to bundle the ball past Daveron on the line.

This third goal by Rovers killed of the United comeback and Rovers held on comfortably to their two goal lead.

Galway United: Ryan; Conneely, Guthrie, Breen, Daveron; O'Shea, McBrien (Edwards, 46), Kelly, Murphy (Cooke, 72), O'Brien; Faherty.

Shamrock Rovers: Duggan; Treacy, Webb, Maguire, Cahill; Robinson, Cameron, Rice, O'Connor (Madden, 77); Baker (Purcell, 81), Twigg (Amond, 86).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).

Attendance: 1,470.