Shamrock Rovers laid the ghosts of their recent defeat to Dundalk to rest as they swept aside the challenge of Galway United at Tallaght Stadium.

Hoops boss Michael O’Neill had called for a reaction from his players in the wake of their 5-1 defeat to the Lilywhites and he got the perfect response as his players put six past Galway United without reply to book their place in the FAI Ford Cup semi finals.

Thomas Stewart opened the scoring for the home side on 12 minutes. Galway ‘keeper Barry Ryan came for the ball but totally missed it, leaving an open goal for Stewart.

An incensed Ryan claimed there had been an infringement in the build-up to the goal but he protested too much and ended up receiving a red card for his trouble.

A goal and a player down so early on, the writing was on the wall for the visitors. It was only a matter of time before Rovers doubled their lead and they did so on 23 minutes when Rhys Meynell turned Stewart’s cross into his own net to make it 2-0.

James Chambers scored his first goal of the evening on 33 minutes when he brilliantly finished off a team move from 18 yards, turning and shooting first time in the bottom corner.

The former Ireland Under-21 international was to score an even better goal in the second half, however, chesting the ball onto the half-volley from well outside the penalty area and drilling the ball into the goal.

It was 5-0 on 67 minutes when Gary Twigg’s shot rebounded off the crossbar and struck the unfortunate Seamus Conneely and rolled into the net.

Substitute Dessie Baker then put the icing on the cake on 78 minutes to give the Hoops an emphatic victory.

Shamrock Rovers: Mannus; Stevens, Sives, Price, Murphy; Dennehy, Rice (O'Connor h/t) (Baker '51), Turner, Chambers; Twigg (Downes '68), Stewart.
Subs not used: Jennings, Fenn, Flynn, Kavanagh.

Galway United: Ryan; Conneely, Sinnott, McKenzie, Meynell; Curran, Reilly (Gerraty '13), O'Donnell,  O'Brien; Walshe (King '71), Sheppard (Keogh '78).
Subs not used: Shepherd, Molloy, Preston Kelly, Cheevers.

Referee: A. Buttimer