ROVERS SHAW LOOKING GOOD
Gary and Miele to the fore as Hoops revival gathers even more pace
SHAMROCK ROVERS have blown so hot and cold all season it’s impossible to know when exactly their season might ignite.
But one constant in recent weeks has been the form of Gary Shaw and Brandon Miele so it was fitting they shared the goals in this comfortable win in Tallaght. Shaw got the ball rolling before half-time with his first league goal since March but that doesn’t reflect his contribution of late. He pulverised Dundalk’s defence at the start of the month and tormented Galway’s back three on this occasion. Miele, who scored his second goal in three games, is threatening to regain a sliver of the form that saw him crowned PFAI Young Player of the Year two seasons ago. Galway arrived with just one defeat in their last 13 competitive games – a run that proved they are a tough nut to crack despite teetering around the relegation zone. But they completely switched off in the second half to gift wrap the points for the Hoops. Still, despite creating little or nothing themselves in the opening half, they made life difficult for a Rovers side that struggled to find a rhythm until Shaw’s opener on 36 minutes. It was a grim first half. Chances were scarce with neither side able to excite a crowd that included Ireland’s Daryl Horgan – brotherof Galway skipper Colm – among its ranks. But Shaw’s goal was just the tonic for a Rovers side whose mini-revival was stopped in its tracks after a 3-1 defeat to Derry on Friday. Trevor Clarke held up a Luke Byrne cross and created space for Shaw who swivelled and hooked the ball home past Conor Winn. If Gary Shanahan’s low drive just before the break signalled hope of a Galway revival, it was shortlived as Rovers upped the ante thereafter. Stephen Bradley’s charges were much improved and it was no surprise to see them pull clear as Galway unravelled at a rate of knots. Burke went close on two occasions, as did Clarke with another, before Miele bagged his goal in the 68th minute. He controlled a Shaw header and held off Lee Grace before smashing home a left-footed drive to the net. Miele then turned provider for Shaw but the striker couldn’t keep his header down while Miele them shaved the post soon after with a cheeky effort. Galway had lost their head at this stage and not even Kevin Devaney’s rasper from 25 yards could breathe life into their cause as Rovers were already home and hosed.