Galway United bridged a 20-year gap on Friday night, securing their first competitive victory over Shamrock Rovers since 2006 thanks to a 2-0 win over the title-chasing Hoops at Eamonn Deacy Park.

United, who had also remarkably not beaten Rovers in a top-flight fixture since September 2000, frustrated the league leaders throughout and were clinical when their opportunities arose, producing one of the most eye-catching results of this year's SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division campaign.

The result, could be Bohemian's victory over Waterford means that the title race is still right in the mix. Rovers lead Bohemians by three points with both teams left with two games to play. St Patrick's Athletic are three points further back but have a game in hand, against Derry City on Monday at the Brandywell.

It was a lively start to proceedings as Jimmy Keohane netted for the Tribesmen inside two minutes.

Wicklow's Aaron Bolger tested Ed McGinty with a volley from the edge of the box before captain Keohane, making his 75th United appearance, reacted quickest to the rebound, firing home from close range to give John Caulfield’s charges the perfect start.

Rovers, dominating possession as expected, searched for a response, but were unable to break down or find openings against a resolute United backline.

John O'Sullivan came close for the visitors from a corner, but his goal-bound shot was blocked on the line, while the Tribesmen would strike again just before the break.

Bolger once more popped up on the edge of the box, and his left-footed effort arrowed beyond McGinty’s outstretched hand and into the back of the net in the 42nd minute, sending United into the interval two to the good.

Stephen Bradley needed a reaction from his side as the Hoops tried to speed up their attacking play, but once again United did not falter in their defensive shape.

For a third time, Bolger latched onto a breaking ball, but this time skied his strike over the bar as Rovers were left bewildered on Corribside. Later in the second half, the ever-impressive United midfielder broke forward on a counter-attack and unleashed a venomous strike which McGinty did well to fly across and tip around the post.

Da Cunha was called into action for the first time on the night to keep out a Dylan Watts effort, while Graham Burke will be left wondering how he failed to hit the target from close range after superb work by substitute Adam Brennan.

More openings were starting to appear for Rovers, as Jonathan Afolabi also went close, but that lifeline goal never arrived.

The Hoops are far from over the line in their bid to retain the title, while the Tribesmen earned a famous victory to give themselves some breathing room from the relegation play-off place.

Galway United: Cunha; Devitt, Barratt, O’Connor, Facchineri; Bolger, Hurley, Keohane, McCarthy (Wolfe 82), Twardek; Walsh (Connolly 89)

Shamrock Rovers: McGinty; Mulraney (Afolabi 46), Sobowale, Grace, Lopes, Cleary (Grant 77); Healy (Brennan 46), Watts, O’Sullivan (Fitzgerald 66); Burke, McGovern

Referee: Damien McGraith.