Rovers 1 Galway Utd 0

******* Eircom League Premier Division *******
Shamrock Rovers 1
Rowe 87'
Galway Utd 0

Tolka Park - Friday 30th March 2007

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These two sides played out four tight games last season and this clash in the Premier Division continued the trend. The visitors started at a high tempo but Robbie Kelleher almost punished them on 7 minutes when he pounced on an error but could only flick his effort across goal. Jamie Duffy cut in from the right just 2 minutes later but again the shot was across goal. Galway got into the game in the 14th minute with a dangerous low cross that was cleared.

Tadhg Purcell got a header on goal in the 19th minute from an O'Connor cross but his effort was easily saved. On 22 minutes a clearance from the Galway 'keeper rebounded off Kelleher but was cleared. Derek Pender was then on hand to make a fine interception tackle as the visitors number eleven burst into the box. A Clarke free kick in the 28th minute was headed down by Purcell but a defender got to the ball before Kelleher. A Galway free-kick from a dangerous position in the 38th minute fell to O'Flynn in the box but he fired over from the angle of the six-yard box.

The second half brought more in the way of entertainment as the Hoops tried to impose themselves more on the game. The Home fans thought that the breakthrough had arrived just 4 minutes into the 'half when a Clarke free kick was headed on by Price for Kelleher to head into the net but the Linesman had flagged him for offside. Clarke again provided the cross in the 54th minute that Duffy knocked down for Kelleher but a defender got across to block.

Ger Rowe was introduced in the 58th minute and 3 minutes later O'Connor's second attempt to cross saw Price rise well but he directed his header across goal. A long kick out from the Galway 'keeper gave the visitors their first chance of the second 'half in the 61st minute but Barry Murphy advanced to snuff out the danger. Just two minutes later the Galway number eleven burst into the area but Murphy was again on hand to block his effort. Just 4 minutes later a free kick fell nicely for Wesley Charles at the back post but he stumbled and the chance was lost.

Dave McGill entered the fray in the 70th minute and just two minutes later Duffy took a pass from Rowe and the ball fell to McGill on the penalty spot but his first touch gave the defender a chance to block his effort. In the 75th minute a free kick from Lester was fumbled by Murphy but the Hoops defence cleared the danger.

Good work from Dave McGill in the 77th minute set up Rowe and his shot was deflected into the path of Duffy but the advancing 'keeper just did enough to deny the Hoops number seven. Dave McGill again worked well down the left and his ball sent Purcell in on goal but the shot was straight at the 'keeper from a tight angle.

The game continued at a frantic pace into the last ten minutes and a fine save from Barry Murphy in the 86th minute led to the Hoops opening goal a minute later. Rowe turned well on the right and he played a one-two with Purcell at the edge of the box before firing a low shot that went into the right corner of the net under the dive of the 'keeper. This provoked a reaction from the visitors and straight away a free kick fell to Charles at the back post and his drive was parried away by Murphy. The Galway number seventeen then just failed to connect with a through ball as the game entered a 4 minute period of time added-on but there was to be another scramble in the Hoops box before the finish with a combination of Murphy and O'Brien blocking a close range effort.

Line-Out

1 Barry Murphy
2 Derek Pender
3 Robbie Clarke
4 Aidan Price
5 Ian Ryan
6 Tommy Barrett
7 Jamie Duffy
8 Eric McGill
9 Tadhg Purcell
10 Robbie Kelleher
11 Dave O'Connor


Substitutes :

13 Ger O'Brien for Duffy 80'
14 Dave McGill for O'Connor 70'
15 Wayne Colbert
16 Stephen O'Brien 17 Ger Rowe for Kelleher 58'