A frenetic start saw a depleted Galway compete with admirable passion and purpose as the Gypsies struggled initially.

Galway were eager to move the ball forward quickly and their determination was rewarded in the 10th minute.

Paul Synott's long delivery was controlled by lone frontrunner Jason Molloy, who was fouled by Ken Oman in the area.

Derek O'Brien accepted the responsibility by drilling a confident penalty past Barry Murphy and Galway were armed with a shock advantage.

Bohemians, though, came thundering back as Mark Quigley forced Barry Ryan to make a splendid save and then Raf Cretaro drilled a shot against the woodwork.

The Gypsies did restore parity on 24 minutes when Owen Heary's venomous cross located Paul Keegan, who headed Bohemians back on terms.

It was a tasty encounter and Galway went back in front again in the 44th minute when Rhys Meynell's long punt elicited panic in the Bohemians defence and Brian Shelley, under pressure from Molloy, hooked the ball past the advancing substitute goalkeeper Chris O'Connor.

Again the Bohs riposte was loaded with courage and they were given a present of a penalty on the stroke of half-time by referee Tom Connolly when Mark Quigley tumbled following a Tom King tackle.

Jason Byrne drilled the spot kick into the roof of the Galway net and the teams departed deadlocked at the interval.

Galway came within a whisker of grabbing a third in the 61st minute, but O'Connor reacted sharply to deny a well-struck King attempt.

Eight minutes from time Gareth McGlynn crafted an opportunity for replacement Paddy Madden, but the promising youngster failed to hit the target.

The contest ended in a welter of excitement as Seamus Conneely fed Molloy, who squeezed a cute strike past O'Connor, as Galway and Shamrock Rovers supporters throughout the world saluted the slice of magic.

Galway United: Ryan; King (N Keane, 73), McKenzie, Sinnott (Kelly, 46), Meynell; Reilly; J Keane, Conneely, Curran (D Sheppard, 81), O'Brien; Molloy.

Bohemians: Murphy (O'Connor, 34); Heary, Shelley, Oman, Powell; McGlynn, Cronin (Higgins, 24), Keegan, Quigley; Cretaro (Madden, 67), Byrne.

Referee: T Connolly (Dublin).