Calamitous Galway United own goal seals victory for Shamrock Rovers as Jack Byrne stars

On a day dominated by the drama engulfing Dundalk, this novel pairing provided a timely reminder of the positives of this season.

The hosts were one of two promoted sides vying for European football. The visitors, the four-in-a-row champions, coveted the same prize and already have Europa Conference League group-stage football to looking forward to.

Rovers, led by the brilliance of Jack Byrne, dominated the first half. He unlocked the United defence for the opener which was turned home by Marc McNulty after poor defending.

There were myriad chances for a second. McNulty and Roberto Lopes had snapshots from inside the box that missed the target. Later, Josh Honohan was guilty of blazing over too.

By this point, United were already on terms after Conor McCormack converted a penalty awarded after a Dan Cleary handball.

The towering defender was everywhere in the first half. Before the penalty he saw a header come back off the bar.

After it, he was lucky to stay on after a fracas in midfield caused by his bad tackle.

The second half was a more sedate affair but it would hinge on a moment of madness.

Johnny Kenny, introduced off the bench for his pace, used it to burst through. Garry Buckley cut out his run but hacked the ball into his own goal when trying to clear.

There were chances late on for a leveller but they couldn’t be converted by Pat Hickey or Bobby Burns as Leon Pohls clung on to the shots, and in turn the points.

Galway United: Clarke; Esua (Horgan 12, Burns 89), Buckley, Brouder, Cunningham; Keohane, Borden (Hurley 72), McCormack (O’Keeffe 72), Hickey, McCarthy (Slevin 89); Walsh.

Shamrock Rovers: Pohls; Farrugia, Cleary, Lopes, Hoare (Clarke 75), Honohan (Grace 80); Towell (Kenny 65), O’Neill (Burns 80), Watts; Byrne, McNulty (Mandroiu 65).

Ref: N Doyle.