Shamrock Rovers will meet Cork City in next month's League Cup final after a narrow victory over First Division Galway United in last night's semi-final at Tolka Park.

On a night of thrilling football in difficult conditions the only disappointing aspect was that the game's only goal should stem from an unfortunate error. An excellent start to the game might have produced four goals inside the opening 12 minutes. Rovers led the charge with Billy Woods forcing a good save from Cobey within three minutes and Morrisroe should have given them the lead a minute later but he toe-poked his shot past Cobey's right hand post.

Galway replied within minutes and Gareth Gorman had Tony O'Dowd diving low to his left to tip his shot out for Galway's first corner. Woods found the range again at the other end soon after, but his well struck 25-yard shot was wide.

On a wet pitch and with the football fast-flowing a goal had to come, but not in the manner it did after 23 minutes. Though Galway had lost the ball from their own free-kick, there appeared little danger as Mark Cobey got down to save a well-struck 20-yard shot from Brain Morrisroe. However, the ball squirmed under the goalkeeper's body and into the net.

Shamrock Rovers: O'Dowd; O'Neill, Whelan, Palmer, Dunne; Woods, Kenny, Colwell, Tracey, Morrisroe; Cousins.

Galway United: Cobey; Watson, Clery, Carter, Gorman; Brennan, Neary, O'Connor, Quirke; O'Flaherty, Levine. Subs: Forde for Brennan (80 mins), Goldby for Quirke (85 mins).

Referee: T Tully (Cork).