LEAGUE LEADERS Shamrock Rovers kept the show on the road at Tallaght Stadium with a comfortable dismissal of basement boys Galway United.

 

Sean Connor’s men battled bravely with their more illustrious opponents throughout this one-sided affair, but the champions are in a different league to the westerners and goals from Stephen Rice, Gary McCabe, Gary Twigg and Billy Dennehy did the damage.

Results elsewhere mean the Hoops are still being chased hard by St Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City, with Sligo to play on Saturday, but they still lead by three at the league’s half way point.

It’s exactly the position Michael O’Neill would have wanted to be in at this stage of the year and they were rarely troubled ahead of Tuesday’s clash with Dundalk.

Galway started well, setting themselves up to contain and hit Rovers on the break.

Alan Mannus was called into action to deny an Eduardo Dusi effort from the edge of the box after good work from Bobby Ryan, but he wouldn’t be troubled again.

The Hoops were in front after a quarter of an hour when Pat Sullivan’s pass put Stephen Rice in behind and the midfielder made no mistake from just inside the box.

Dan Murray got caught in possession at the other end, only for Mikey Gilmore to fire over the bar, but most of the action was happening at the other end.

Greg Fleming was having a strong night in the Galway goal and he did well to deny Gary O’Neill after Ken Oman had nodded Conor McCormack’s cross to the striker’s feet.

Billy Dennehy had the ball in the net, only for it to be ruled offside while Murray played a fine ball for Dennehy to run on to, he squared for Twigg whose effort was blocked by Evan Kelly.

O’Neill chipped over another fine Sullivan ball, before Twigg fired just wide as Galway got in just one down at the break.

But it wasn’t to last, Dennehy squared for Gary McCabe who finished brilliantly past Fleming.

Dennehy had a shot saved, before Twigg missed the target, but the Scot wouldn’t be denied and he made no mistake when Ronan Finn split the defence, Dennehy drew the ‘keeper and squared for the striker who scored his ninth of the season.

Only Fleming prevented a cricket score, as the goalkeeper pulled off save after save, denying O’Neill, Twigg, Dennehy and Ciaran Kilduff as Galway were run ragged.

But he could do nothing to deny Dennehy late on, as the Kerry winger’s unstoppable low shot put a gloss on the evening for Rovers.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: Mannus; Sullivan, Oman, Murray, McCormack; McCabe, O’Donnell (Finn 64), Rice (Turner 78), Dennehy; O’Neill, Twigg (Kilduff 73).

GALWAY UNITED: Fleming; G Kelly, Sinnott, E Kelly, Shaun Kelly; Gartland, Ryan, Dusi (Duggan 52), Curran, Moore; Gilmore (Cauldwell 20)

REFEREE: P Sutton (Clare).