Galway Utd 0 Rovers 2

Rovers on top in Galway...

Alan Murphy
Faced his former club

A deluge of rain fell in Galway just before kick-off leaving the Terryland pitch very heavy with some surface water visible. However the Hoops started brightly and Alan Murphy blasted a free-kick over the bar on seven minutes. Eoin Doyle started on the right-hand side of midfield and he almost sent Rice in on goal on nine minutes. Barry Murphy was on hand to tip over a close range header from Faherty after 15 minutes but the Hoops broke the deadlock just three minutes later.

Eoin Doyle ran at the Galway defence and the ball broke for Baker just inside the area and he steered the ball past the advancing Rogers. Two minutes later Ferguson sent Doyle down the right and his low cross set up Murphy in front of goal but he fired his shot over the bar.

Barry Murphy advanced from his line to save at Leech's feet on 26 minutes and five minutes later the Hoops number one failed to hold a driven corner but the Rovers defence cleared the danger. Barry Ferguson failed to clear a through ball in the 34th minute allowing Faherty a strike on goal but Murphy advanced to block. Murphy then did well to hold a Leech header that skidded off the surface.

Rice layed off a good ball for McGill to shoot just over on 39 minutes but the Hoops should have doubled their lead a minute later when Murphy pounced on a mistake in defence to run clear on goal but Rogers was able to block his effort with his legs.

Sean O'Connor fired a free-kick straight at Rogers nine minutes after the break but Rovers extended their lead on 57 minutes when O'Connor fed Baker on the edge of the area and his sublime flick sent Rice in on goal and he blasted the ball past Rogers from a tight angle.

The Hoops were in control now and although Galway fought hard to get back into the game they created little in front of goal with Leech's weak effort at the back post after 79 minutes the only chance of note. Rovers were dangerous on the break and Baker stretched to meet Danny O'Connors free-kick on 83 minutes but his effort went wide. Two minutes into added-on time substitute John Martin broke down the right and turned the ball back for Baker but his shot was straight at Rogers.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Ger O'Brien
3 Danny O'Connor
4 Daragh Maguire
5 Barry Ferguson
6 Eric McGill
7 Eoin Doyle
8 Stephen Rice
9 Alan Murphy
10 Dessie Baker
11 Sean O'Connor


Substitutes:

13 Corey Treacy
14 John Martin for Doyle 69'
15 Robbie Creevy for S O'Connor 85'
16 Karl Coleman
17 Tadhg Purcell for Murphy 55'