SOCCER: AIRTRICITY FIRST DIVISION
Keegan double sinks Hoops
Galway FC edge close to promotion play-off thanks to emphatic victory over Shamrock Rovers B
SHAMROCK ROVERS B…………………………………….. 0
GALWAY FC……………………………………………………… 3
DAIRE WALSH
AT TALLAGHT STADIUM
JAKE Keegan was in top form at the Tallaght Stadium on Sunday as Galway FC edged one step closer to the promotion play-offs with a comfortable victory over Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ in the Airtricity League First Division.
Goals in either half helped Keegan to bring his personal goal-scoring return for 2014 up to ten, and with Gary Shanahan also adding his name to the scoresheet, Galway opened up a five-point gap over fourth-placed Wexford Youths.
For their second trip to south Dublin this season, Tommy Dunne opted for two changes to his team from the hard-earned home success over Waterford United. Limerick native Shanahan replaced teenage winger Ryan Manning, while the vastly-experienced Vinny Faherty partnered Keegan in the absence of striker Enda Curran.
With 14 points separating the teams before the start of this encounter, the visitors were strong favourites to secure their 11th league win of the current campaign. However, despite leaking five goals against the Tribesmen at Eamonn Deacy Park back in July, Colin Hawkins’ youthful outfit entered this contest on the back of three consecutive triumphs.
Ciaran Kilduff’s presence in the Rovers starting line-up was a further boost to their prospects, and with the hosts deploying a traditional 4-4-2 formation, it was clear that they were prepared to negotiate a direct route to goal.
Morale-boosting league wins over Longford Town and Waterford (either side of a narrow FAI Cup reversal to top-flight table-toppers Dundalk) had ensured that Galway’s promotion challenge remains on course, though, and with just seven minutes gone on the clock, they had their first sighting of the Hoops goal.
Ryan Connolly’s delicious delivery from the right-hand side was met by a delicate flick-on from Faherty, but despite having a limited view of the play, Rovers netminder Craig Hyland was equal to his effort.
This was the most clear-cut opening for either team during the early exchanges, although Colm Horgan’s attempted cross from the right-flank almost found its way into the top left-hand corner of Hyland’s goal.
As the half wore on, Galway continued to display the greater attacking intent, but the Rovers back-four were more than holding their own.
Indeed, against all the odds, the home side were inches away from breaking the deadlock after 34 minutes. Daniel Purdy’s enticing corner from the left was met by a thundering Sean Heaney header, and Galway custodian Conor Gleeson was relieved to see the woodwork coming to his rescue.
This was a major let-off for the Tribes, but just three minutes later Keegan was left with a simple tap-in when Shanahan nodded down a Connolly cross from the let-wing. Because of this opener, Galway had a perfect tonic heading into the second period, and within two minutes of the restart, they effectively placed the tie beyond doubt.
It was Jason Molloy who turned provider on this occasion, and following a slight deflection off his left-footed pass, Shanahan was in the right place to calmly side-foot past the stranded Hyland.
A major sting was taken out of the play as a result, but at the end of a goalmouth scramble 52 minutes in, an attempt by Jack Watson had to be diverted away from the target by full-back Horgan.
This was a warning to Galway that they couldn’t allow their standards to drop, but thanks to outstanding performances from central midfield pairing Connolly and Paul Sinnott, Rovers were never allowed to build the kind of momentum that would propel an unlikely final-quarter comeback.
From the opening moments of the tie, Connolly was a creative force in the Galway engine room, but it was his industrious partner-in-crime who was the architect for his team’s third 12 minutes from time. Sinnott’s telling through-ball left Keegan one-on-one with Hyland, and though he had plenty of time to eye up the target, his subsequent low finish was coolness personified.
For the remaining minutes of the game, it was a case of Galway running down the clock, and with Robbie Egan, Conor Barry and Padraic Cunningham offering fresh legs off the bench, they never allowed their guard to slip, and will now embark on upcoming meetings with Finn Harps and Cobh Ramblers in a positive frame of mind.
SHAMROCK ROVERS ‘B’: Hyland; Veuille, Cornwall, Heaney, Osam; Whelan (D Kavanagh 30), Doolin (C Kavanagh 64), Watson (Boyne 77), Purdy; Kilduff, Lyons.
GALWAY FC: Gleeson; Horgan, Barrett, Walsh, Ludden; Shanahan (Barry 89), Sinnott, Connolly (Egan 86), Molloy; Faherty, Keegan (Cunningham 90).
REFEREE: Simon Rogers (Dublin).