Playing well within themselves, Shamrock Rovers duly opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Premier Division table.

First-half goals from Terry Palmer and Stephen Grant, his first for the club in his first start against one of his former clubs, and a third late on from substitute Shane Robinson were more than enough as Galway's predicament - second from bottom of the table - becomes all the more obvious.

Being told that several of them were in the "last chance saloon" by manager Dave Connell at training this week seemed to have the desired effect, initially at least, as his Galway players couldn't be faulted for effort.

Indeed, in a flat start to the game it was Galway who created the first real chance on 17 minutes when Tony O'Dowd in the Rovers' goal had to make a fine one-handed save to keep out Derek O'Brien's well-struck right-foot shot.

Rovers soon woke from their lethargic start, however, to effectively seal their win before the interval with two goals inside 11 minutes.

The opener came on 26 minutes. Marc Kenny's pacey low free-kick was missed by Tony Grant and his marker Mike Quirke, not to mention goalkeeper Mark Cobey, to arrive at the feet of Palmer at the back post. The big central defender had time to steady himself before tapping the ball into the gaping goal two yards in front of him.

A double mistake by Kenny then almost gifted Galway an equaliser on 37 minutes, but new signing Shane Watkins failed to take advantage. As is so often the case, the miss was further regretted as Rovers went up the other end and scored within a minute.

Stephen Grant outpaced Tom Silke onto Pat Scully's long headed clearance. The former under-21 international then went around Cobey once before cutting by the recovering 'keeper again, after he appeared to have overrun the ball, before calmly shooting home from a tight angle.

Cobey kept Galway in with a chance with a fine save at the feet of Tony Grant after Billy Woods played him through on goal on 58 minutes, before repeating the heroics to thwart the frustrated Grant again with another excellent stop 18 minutes from time.

Rovers' dominance deserved a further goal and it finally came on 87 minutes with Robinson drilling home from an angle from Derek Tracey's pass.

SHAMROCK ROVERS: O'Dowd; Costello, Palmer, Scully, Byrne; Kenny, Colwell, Tracey, Woods; S Grant, Francis. Subs: A. Grant for Francis (inj, 14 mins.); Cousins for S. Grant (76 mins).

GALWAY UNITED: Cobey; Sheridan, Clery, Silke, Quirke; Ryan, Herrick, Murphy, O'Brien, Watkins, Keogh. Subs: Crossley and Forde for Murphy and Keogh (54 mins.).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).

Mbabazi Livingstone has been voted Player of the Month by the Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland for his fine performances during the month of September. Livingstone showed particular courage and bravery in the face of adversity when continuing to perform at the highest level for his club, St Patrick's Athletic, following the death of his father and brother.