Sports
Galway FC move another step closer to play-offs
Jake Keegan was in top form on Sunday as Galway FC edged one step closer to the promotion play-offs with a 3-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers ‘B’ in Tallaght.
Goals in either half in the SSE Airtricity League First Division clash helped Keegan to bring his personal goal-scoring return for 2014 up to 10, and with Gary Shanahan also adding his name to the scoresheet, Galway opened up a five-point gap over fourth-placed Wexford Youths, who drew 2-2 away to league leaders Longford Town.
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, and they opened the scoring in the 37th minute.
Ryan Connolly crossed from the left and Shanahan headed it back across goal, leaving Keegan with the simple task of tapping the ball into the unguarded net.
Within two minutes of the restart, they effectively placed the tie beyond doubt when Shanahan grabbed his second league goal of the season. 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.
They wrapped up the points in the 78th minute when Keegan raced through after being played in on goal by Paul Sinnott, and he fired past Craig Hyland to leave Galway FC in pole position for a play-off spot with four games remaining.