Shamrock Rovers leapt above Derry City into third place ahead of Tuesday's meeting at the Brandywell thanks to an entertaining 4-2 win over Galway United at Tallaght Stadium.
Goals from Sean Boyd, Sean Heaney, Gary McCabe and an own-goal were just reward for a performance that bristled with attacking intent from the outset.
Ryan Connolly had twice equalised for the Tribesmen either side of half-time, the captain outstanding on a difficult night for his team, but Tommy Dunne will rue the defensive lapses that allowed Rovers to keep his side at an arm's length throughout.
The home side chose to use the aid of a strong breeze in the first half, and it immediately looked to cause problems for Galway goalkeeper Sam Ramsbottom, a summer acquisition from Tranmere Rovers.
McCabe and Gary Shanahan had already forced routine saves from either goalkeeper when the game's first flashpoint arrived after 18 minutes.
A long ball over the top from the Rovers defence was allowed to bounce by Armin Aganovic, and it sat up nicely for the pacey Dean Clarke, who tried to dink it over Ramsbottom. The keeper stretched and blocked with his hands, but appeared to leave his box as he did so. Referee Sean Grant was unmoved.
Galway immediately broke up the other end and could have taken a lead of their own as Gary Shanahan played an inviting low cross into the six-yard box and David Webster nudged it inadvertently on goal, only for Barry Murphy to sweep it behind.
Four minutes later, Rovers took the lead as Ramsbottom failed to control a Stephen Folan backpass and, under pressure from Dean Clarke, scooped it up in the air. Folan could only head it as far as Boyd, who showed great technique to get over the ball and volley it past Ramsbottom.
The Tribesmen responded well, however, and after Webster allowed a long throw to bounce in the Rovers' area, a comedy of errors saw Galway's Enda Curran and Shanahan, and Rovers keeper Barry Murphy, all miss the ball inside the six-yard box.
Galway wouldn't have to wait long for their equaliser, however, as a perfectly-weighted through ball from Paul Sinnott found the run of captain Connolly, who blasted the ball past a helpless Barry Murphy.
They'd only be level for three minutes though, as another Ramsbottom howler saw the Hoops take the lead once. The keeper watched McCabe's cross bounce off the post before shovelling the ball into his own net in an effort to clear.
Curran should have equalised early in the second half as Connolly's free kick found him unmarked at the back post, but he could only hit the side-netting.
Galway did draw level just before the hour as Connolly outmuscled Trevor Clarke, the last line of the Rovers defence, and skilfully prodded the ball past Murphy.
Once again, the parity was shortlived as Rovers were back in front within two minutes, Sean Heaney heading home McCabe's corner.
And the captain himself capped off a free-flowing counter three minutes later to cap off an outstanding individual performance.
Shamrock Rovers: Barry Murphy; David Webster, Rob Cornwall (Stephen McPhail 54), Sean Heaney; Simon Madden, Gary McCabe, Pat Cregg, James Doona (Gary Shaw 46), Trevor Clarke; Sean Boyd (Aaron Bolger 83), Dean Clarke.
Galway United: Sam Ramsbottom; Colm Horgan, Armin Aganovic, Stephen Folan, Marc Ludden; Alex Byrne (Padraic Cunningham 68), Paul Sinnott, Ryan Connolly, Gary Shanahan (Conor Melody 79), Kevin Devaney; Enda Curran (Vinny Faherty 68).
Referee: Sean Grant (Wexford)
