Galway produced their best performance four months, but they still lost for a 22nd game on the trot as Rovers got away from the west with all three points.

Rovers made five changes from the team that had competed so well when drawing with Partizan Belgrade in Thursday's Europa League qualifier, but there still was an imposing look to the Hoops starting XI.

Considering it was Karl Moore, Chris Turner, Ciaran Kilduff, Karl Sheppard, and Gary O'Neill that were reintroduced meant that Michael O'Neill's side was packed with class.

Unsurprisingly Rovers bossed the early exchanges crafting a raft of opportunities against a Galway outfit miserably low on confidence.

O'Neill, who craved involvement, spotted that Galway goalkeeper Conor Winn had strayed from his line, but defender Yob Son did well to make a block.

Busy attacker O'Neill was dashing about intelligently and released Ronan Finn, who fired wide from an acute angle.

Galway were showing a bit of grit and determination, though, and skipper Alan Murphy was thwarted by Ryan Thompson on a rare break from the hosts.

Still every time Rovers had a set play Galway looked to be under pressure and a long Pat Sullivan throw in caused problems, but Craig Sives rifled over after a Chris Turner knock down.

But a goal finally arrived for the Hoops in the 16th minute when Ciaran Kilduff overpowered Son and fed Finn, who unleashed a thunderbolt into the top corner.

Kilduff should have added a second in the 33rd minute, but was failed to guide a venomus shot on target.

Then Galway grabbed a shock leveller when Sives and Dan Murray didn't deal with an Alan Murphy pass and substitute Mikey Gilmore curled a tidy strike past Thompson.

Mikey Gilmore celebrates scoring.

Galway then hit the front two minutes after the restart when Eric Browne climbed highest in the area to meet a Stephen Walsh corner as the Tribesmen punished the Hoops' hesitancy.

But Galway's lead only lasted four minutes as another Sullivan throw in found Sives who scored from close range.

Rovers were relieved and they took the lead again on 57 when Sheppard headed the ball acorss goal with Kilduff providing the final touch.

Late on Winn made a raft of brilliant saves denying Sheppard, substitute Gary Twigg, and Dan Murray, but Rovers held on.

Galway United: Connor Winn; Evan Preston-Kelly, Eric Browne, Yob Son, Eric Holland; Jin Gu Kim (Oscar Sibanda, 88), Paul Sinnott, Gary Kelly, Stephen Walsh (Bobby Ryan, 68); Alan Murphy, Victor Collins (Mikey Gilmore, 29).

Shamrock Rovers: Ryan Thompson; Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Dan Murray, Enda Stevens; Karl Sheppard, Chris Turner, Ronan Finn, Karl Moore (Gary McCabe, 61); Ciaran Kilduff (Billy Dennehy, 66), Gary O'Neill ( Gary Twigg, 79).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).

Gary Kelly and Ronan Finn compete for possession.