Galway United 0-1 Shamrock Rovers
Friday, 28 August 2009 22:28

Stephen Bradley's 74th-minute free kick ensured Shamrock Rovers cut the gap on leaders Bohemians to four points, as the Hoops beat Galway United 1-0 at Terryland Park.

In a tight game, Galway had Shane Guthrie sent off in the 39th minute, and while Rovers bossed the second half they had to wait until late on before scoring.

Bradley forced Galway custodian Barry Ryan to make a superb save after 73 minutes, but a minute later, the ex-Arsenal youngster scored.

Despite a slow start the opening period wasn't short on incident as chances were fashioned at either end, while Galway were also reduced to 10 men in the 39th minute.

Referee Anthony Buttimer dismissed Galway defender Guthrie for his involvement in an off-the-ball clash with Dessie Baker. Moments earlier Guthrie beat Baker to a fifty-fifty ball and Baker came off second best. Baker did not leave it at that and stood on the foot of Guthrie upon his resumption of the game moments later and a minor altercation took place. Buttimer apparently saw Guthrie's misdeameaneur and he was given a straight red. Baker's antics drew the wrath of the United crowd for the remainder of the game as he had made the most out of Guthrie's slight nudge earlier on.

Galway were eager and enthusiastic and Rovers needed Pat Sullivan to make a superb 18th-minute tackle to deny Aaron Greene following a tidy Dave Cooke pass.

Still Rovers carried a threat throughout, and in the 27th minute, Garry Breen had to be alert to deny a Baker effort after Aidan Price had headed down Stephen Rice's long throw.

Then in the 31st minute, Bradley fashioned an opportunity for Shane Robinson, who was denied by a smart Barry Ryan save.

The next major incident saw Guthrie put off, and that scarcely aided the Galway cause as manager Ian Foster was forced to make a couple of switches to his team as Sean Kelly dropped back to partner Breen at the back, with Alan Murphy switching into the centre of the park.

Rovers roared into the game after the break and Galway were fortunate to escape two scares shortly after the restart.

Breen made a brave tackle to turn a Rice effort out for a corner, but from that move Bradley and Baker worked it short and the ex-Arsenal man crossed for Gary Twigg, who rattled the crossbar with a firm header.

In the 73rd minute, Ryan made a diving fingertip save from a Bradley free-kick, but Rovers refused to be perturbed, and Bradley rifled an unstoppable winner a minute later.

Hoops full-back Pat Sullivan saw red in stoppage time for a second caution, but the Dubliners still claimed all the spoils.

Galway United: 1 Barry Ryan; 2 Seamus Conneely, 5 Garry Breen, 6 Shane Guthrie, 21 Iarfhlaith Davoren (3 Mark O'Toole, 14); 4 Dave Cooke, 16 Sean Kelly, 8 John Russell, 17 Cian McBrien (20 Jason Molloy, 82); 10 Alan Murphy, 19 Aaron Greene (9 Vinny Faherty, 72).

Subs not used: 15 Paul Synott, 22 Ger Hanley.
Yellow Card: Kelly (44 mins), O'Toole (64 mins)
Red Card: Guthrie (39 mins)

Shamrock Rovers: 23 Alan Mannus; 19 Pat Sullivan, 5 Aidan Price, 6 Craig Sives, 3 Ian Bermingham; 10 Stephen Bradley, 7 Shane Robinson (14 Ollie Cahill, 66), 8 Stephen Rice, 11 Sean O'Connor; 18 Dessie Baker (20 Pat Flynn, 90), 9 Gary Twigg (22 Graham Barrett, 66).

Subs not used: 1 Barry Murphy, 15 Ross Chisholm.
Yellow Cards: Bermingham (29 mins), Sullivan (67 and 90 mins)
Red Card: Sullivan (90 mins)

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).