Galway United moved into the top half of the eircom League First Division table with a 4-1 victory at home to Kilkenny City. Alan Murphy, top scorer with Galway last season, hit a hat-trick in a game which started with two goals in the first 3 minutes.

Murphy netted in the first minute only to see Niall Andrew reply almost immediately for the visitors. An Adrian Carrbery goal saw Galway ahead in the 55 minute before Murphy completed the hat-trick in the 63rd and 76th minutes.

In tonight's other game Kildare County earned a point against Limerick at Station Road thanks to a last gasp goal from Phillip Hughes. It had looked like a Limerick win as Paul Purcell's goals after 75 minutes separated the sides with the game deep in injury time.

But Hughes was on hand to rescue a point for Kildare in the 93 minute. To the delight of the home crowd. Kildare now lie two points off top spot but have a game in hand on the three teams above them.