Hoops confirmed as Premier champions

SHAMROCK ROVERS are champions again. Finally.

- BY MARK McCADDEN

Champions-elect since their September 26 win against Bohemians, Stephen Bradley's men rubber-stamped their status with a 1-0 win over Galway United last night.

Dylan Watts served up a goal deserving of the occasion, when he sent a 75th minute free-kick into the top right hand corner.

That's title number 22 for the Hoops, and a fifth in six seasons. Soon, they will bid for their 26th FAI Cup win with a November 9 showdown against Cork City.

Watts' strike would warm up the frostiest of occasions and it gave fans in the South Stand an excuse to light up a handful of flares.

Worryingly, though, wing-back Josh Honohan limped off injured early in the second-half.

Galway looked not to be the latest party-poopers, but to lift themselves away from the relegation playoff spot.