Sligo Rovers 2-0 Galway United
 

Match Report from rte.ie

Full-backs Shaun Holmes and Alan Keane did the damage as Sligo Rovers defeated Connacht rivals Galway United at The Showgrounds on Saturday evening.

Holmes got his first goal for the club after just seven minutes, and former Galway player Keane secured the win before half-time with his third goal in four games.

Rovers were without the suspended Danny Ventre, but Owen Morrison, Conor O'Grady and Mauro Almeida all returned to the starting 11.

Galway were forced into one change from the side defeated by UCD midweek, with Derek O'Brien coming in for the banned Garry Breen.

And it was the men in maroon that enjoyed the brighter start, with Jay O'Shea's clever flick putting Vinny Faherty through on three minutes. But Richard Brush was on-hand to push the striker's shot round the post.

Rovers capitalised on that let-off with Holmes opening the scoring four minutes later.

The full-back shot first-time when Morrison teed him up from a corner. Galway defender Shane Guthrie blocked the effort, but Holmes cracked the rebound into the bottom corner.

Rovers' second goal stemmed from a similar set-play on the half-hour. Morrison again fed the unmarked Holmes outside the box, and though Galway blocked again, Richie Ryan latched onto the rebound and broke into the box. Cian McBrien tried to intercept, but only managed to trip Ryan, and former Galway defender Alan Keane made no mistake from the spot.

Galway upped their game after the restart, with captain O'Shea particularly lively. Twice O'Shea linked up with John Russell to get into the Rovers penalty area, but Conor O'Grady and Gavin Peers got back to make important challenges.

The visitors came close to pulling one back when O'Shea skillfully raced past four tackles on 58 minutes, but his curling shot was well saved by Brush.

But Rovers were far from overwhelmed, and, after bringing on the fresh legs of Brian Cash and Sean Doherty, Richie Ryan almost claimed a third with a stinging low shot from outside the box. Barry Ryan got down brilliantly to make the save however.

Derek O'Brien then went close with a low free-kick on 74 minutes, while Seamus Conneely made a vital block to Raffaele Cretaro's shot after he was set-up by Romuald Boco's skill at the other end a minute later.

But Galway's bad night was completed when Russell was sent-off for a second bookable offence late on.

Sligo Rovers: Brush, Keane, Peers, Almeida, Holmes, Boco, O'Grady, Ryan, Morrison (Doherty, 65), Cretaro (Feeney, 79), Parkhouse (Cash 58).

Subs not used: Kelly, Torpey.

Galway United: Ryan, Cooke, Guthrie, Conneely, Davoren, Russell, McBrien (Molloy, 69), McGrath, O'Brien, O'Shea, Faherty.

Subs not used: O'Toole, Walsh, McKenna, Hanley.

Referee: R Winter.