Kieran Foley was Galway United's unlikely match winner with a stunning hat-trick to lift his side out of the bottom three for the first time in over two months at Dalymount Park yesterday.

Twenty-two-year-old Foley, normally a central defender, worked the miracle for Don O'Riordan's struggling side. He took just nine minutes to head home his first goal in senior football.

But Bohemians were level within a minute when Gareth O'Connor shot home and they ran the game until Foley scored again 15 minutes from time.

A host of spurned opportunities came back to haunt Bohemians as Scott Morgan flicked on a Darragh Sheridan free-kick for Foley to turn brilliantly and volley Galway back in front in the 75th minute. Foley then wrapped up his memorable day seven minutes from time when he drilled a shot into the far corner of the net.

BOHEMIANS: Russell; A O'Connor, Witter, Mullen, Dempsey; Byrne, Caffrey, Hunt, G O'Connor; Crowe, Harris. Subs: O'Hanlon for Dempsey (74 mins), Swan for Byrne (78 mins), R Kelly for Harris (85 mins).

GALWAY UTD: Forde; Sheridan, O'Connor, Morgan, Quirke; Malee, Dolan, Keane, Gorman; Foley, Levine. Subs: Keogh for Malee (57 mins), Ogden for Gorman (72 mins).

Referee: P Whelan (Dublin).