Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Galway United

Three first half goals propelled Shamrock Rovers to a comfortable win over Galway United at Tolka Park.

A Darragh Maguire header opened the scoring in the third minute before an Alan Keane own goal gave the hosts a 2-0 lead with just six minutes gone.

Captain John Fitzgerald pulled one back with a tidy finish in the 39th minute to give Galway some hope.

But Rovers restored their two-goal lead when Tadhg Purcell raced through to shoot past Gary Rogers two minutes before the break.

It may have been two weeks since both sides had played but Rovers showed no signs of rustiness as they opened the scoring with just two minutes on the clock. Galway travelled without centre-back Wes Charles who was away on international duty.

Whether his absence was a factor is debatable, but the visitors produced a dire defensive performance in the first half.

The home fans had barely warmed their seats when their side hit the front.

Hoops attacker Padriag Amond did well to win a corner. His strike partner Dessie Baker sent an out-swinger in that found Maguire free about 12 yards out and a flash of his flowing locks later the ball was nestling in the corner of the net, though there was clearly a touch of Alan Keane's head on the way in.

The visitors were rocked by the concession of the early goal, and in their panicked state allowed Rovers to double their advantage just four minutes later. And again left-back Keane got the final touch.

Baker was involved again, feeding the ball through to Sean O'Connor. The winger sent a low cross across the face of goal and the unfortunate Keane inadvertently helped the ball into to his own net with no immediate pressure behind him.

Galway continued to struggle defensively and Amond and Barry Ferguson had half-chances to give the hosts a three-goal cushion.

Just after the half hour had elapsed, Danny O'Connor brought a good save out of Galway goalkeeper Gary Rogers, with a curling shot that the netminder did well to get across to.

Rovers were having much success down the right flank, where Purcell and Ger O'Brien were combining well, and United's frustration was in evidence when Gary Deegan went into the book for a clattering tackle on Purcell in the 35th minute.

United looked off the pace but were thrown a lifeline six minutes before the break. Despite a multitude of Hoops between him and goal, Galway striker Mark Leech poked a ball through to Fitzgerald and the centre-back showed great awareness to turn and tuck a left-footed shot low and to the right of Barry Murphy.

Rovers then lost Amond to injury. However, it quickly turned into a blessing in disguise, as Purcell, who had just moved up front, clinically beat Rogers in a one-on-one after he was set through on goal by Baker to restore the hosts' two-goal advantage.

Galway looked a little more organised after the interval and had a decent chance to pull one back but Leech couldn't get a worthwhile header on John Russell's free-kick.

But catastrophe was never far away and Baker's block on a Rogers clearance, which was brought about by a poor back-pass by Fitzgerald, could have gone anywhere, but, luckily for Kenna's men, it flew wide.

Galway put a patient, well-worked move together in the 68th minute that ended in a scuffed shot from Derek O'Brien.

Substitute Vinny Faherty then manufactured a chance by using some tricky footwork on the edge of the box. His shot also failed to find the target, however.

And although Galway were much improved in the second period, Rovers were able to close the game out with little fuss.

Shamrock Rovers:  B Murphy; O'Brien, Price, Ferguson, Flynn; Purcell, D'O'Connor, Maguire, S O'Connor (Stapleton, 71 mins); Amond (Rice, 41), Baker.

Galway United: Rogers; Connelly, Nootimer, Fitzgerald, A Keane (Faherty, h/t); O'Shea, Fenn (Lester, h/t), Deegan, Russell, O'Brien; Leech.

Referee:  D Hancock.