Liam Burt proved the hero with the winning penalty in the shootout to eventually put Shelbourne into the quarter-finals of the Sports Direct FAI Cup after extra time at Tolka Park.
Midfielder Burt drilled home from 12 yards after Aiden O'Brien, JJ Lunney, Mark Coyle and Ali Coote all found the back of Brendan Clarke’s net.
David Hurley, Jimmy Keohane and Clarke all scored theirs before defender Garry Buckley skied Galway’s fourth spot kick over the crossbar.
With the 90 minutes having ended in stalemate, O’Brien had made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut to put Shelbourne into the lead.
Signed last Monday, the 30-year-old striker, who has five Republic of Ireland caps, was introduced just past the hour mark, but it was the fourth minute of extra time before making his big first impression.
Burt picked out the run of Coote in behind to cut the ball back for O’Brien to blast to the roof of the net from close range.
Galway remained well in a tight game and equalised in the 115th minute with a terrific goal.
Karl O’Sullivan’s cross took a deflection off Shelbourne skipper Coyle to drop for Keohane whose sublime volley arrowed past Conor Kearns to the net.
Starting brightly, Shelbourne got the first sight of goal on nine minutes when Evan Caffrey cleverly turned defender Buckley, if his shot scarcely had the venom to trouble Clarke.
But Galway responded to enjoy the better chances of the first half, Stephen Walsh flashing a header wide before Ed McCarthy brought a terrific save at full stretch from Conor Kearns.
The home defence was stretched again just before the half hour.
McCathy’s long throw was only partially cleared. It dropped for Keohane whose goal bound drive was blocked on the line by Paddy Barrett.
Though Shelbourne regained their passing game they were lacking a cutting edge up top and needed a mistake from Jeannot Esua to worry the visitors for the second time on 44 minutes.
Caffrey got to the end line, but there was no one there to meet the cross which flew across the face of Clarke’s goal.
In a moment of controversy in first-half stoppage time, Galway had appeals for a penalty not given.
Clarke’s goal-kick was flicked on in turn by Pat Hickey and Walsh for Keohane’s run through.
The winger touched the ball past Kearns before colliding with the keeper who had checked his run.
All Galway received was a yellow card for manager John Caulfield for his touchline protests.
Shelbourne showed far more urgency and purpose from the resumption, Buckley doing well to block a shot from Caffrey as the Galway defence came under sustained pressure.
A penalty shout from the home side, when an Ali Coote cross struck the arm of a falling Cunningham, wasn’t entertained.
Shelbourne continued to ask questions of the Galway defence, Clarke producing a fine parry save to deny Harry Wood from Lunney’s cross.
Right-back Sean Gannon then found himself six yards out from another Lunney cross only to blaze over the crossbar.
A route one ball from Barrett then had substitute Matty Smith in over the top, but Clarke again excelled with a brave save at the striker’s feet.
Galway did have the ball in the Shelbourne net twice in the final two minutes of the 90, but both were ruled out for clear offsides before extra time and the drama of penalties was needed to decide it.
Shelbourne: Conor Kearns; Sean Gannon, Paddy Barrett, Shane Griffin (Kameron Ledwidge 90+2), Tyreke Wilson (Sam Bone 104); Mark Coyle, JJ Lunney; Harry Wood (Liam Burt 84), Evan Caffrey (Matty Smith 61), Rayhaan Tulloch (Ai Coote h-t); John Martin (Aiden O’Brien 61).
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Jeannot Esua, Garry Buckley, Killian Brouder, Greg Cunningham; Vincent Borden (David Hurley 57), Conor McCormack (Karl O’Sullivan 101); Jimmy Keohane, Ed McCarthy (Robert Burns 73); Pat Hickey (Maurice Nugent 86), Stephen Walsh (Francely Lomboto 73).
Referee: Rob Harvey (Dublin).
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