Top scorer Eoin Doyle took his league tally to ten with a brace as Sligo Rovers overcame Galway United in a one-sided Connacht derby at the Showgrounds.

Doyle opened the scoring with a flick to the corner on 17 minutes, and made it seven goals in three games by heading Alan Keane's cross past Greg Fleming early in the second half.

John Russell was also on the scoresheet firing home his first league goal of the year on 21 minutes, after Fleming had saved Aaron Greene's initial effort.

Rovers made just one change to the team that won their last two games convincingly, with Joseph Ndo recalled in place of the injured Daryl Horgan.

Galway were without the injured Gary Curran, Joseph Yoffe and Shaun Maher, the unavailable Gary Kelly and the suspended Stephen Walsh, but Alan Murphy was passed fit to start, as boss Sean Connor made three changes to the team beaten by Bohemians last week.

Doyle opened the scoring with his first touch of the game on 17 minutes. Iarfhlaith Davoren started the move on the left, releasing Greene, who skipped past his man to cross for Doyle, whose left-foot shot skidded in off the far post.

The second came just four minutes later, with the outstanding Russell getting the goal his tireless efforts deserved.

It came from the opposite side, with Alan Kirby crossing low from the left for Greene in front of goal. Greg Fleming made a great save to deny the former Galway winger, but Russell was on hand to blast the rebound to the net.

Rovers could have been even further ahead at the break, with Fleming pulling off superb saves to deflect headers from Russell and Jason McGuinness.

And Doyle uncharacteristically blazed wide when presented with another great chance inside the area on 31 minutes.

Galway tried hard to respond, with Karl Moore, Alan Murphy and Bobby Ryan all trying their luck from distance, but Ciaran Kelly dealt with the only shot that found the target.

And Rovers picked up where they left off at the start of the second half, Ndo's pass releasing Alan Keane, whose cross was flicked home by Doyle for his tenth goal of the season.

Rovers had the ball in the net again on the hour-mark, but the ball had crept out over the endline before Greene crossed for Russell to head home.

Almost immediately after, Rovers nearly conceded when Kelly's clearance bounced off a defender but the ball crept the wrong side of the post from a Galway point of view.

Rovers had the luxury of taking off both goalscorers and the excellent Greene in the closing stages, but they still had too much in the tank for the troubled Tribesmen.

Sligo Rovers: 19 Ciaran Kelly; 2 Alan Keane, 4 Gavin Peers, 20 Jason McGuinness, 3 Iarfhlaith Davoren; 22 Aaron Greene (10 Raffaele Cretaro 80), 15 Joseph Ndo, 6 Richie Ryan (Captain), 8 John Russell (7 John Dillon 74), 12 Alan Kirby; 11 Eoin Doyle (14 Mark McGoldrick 69).

Subs not used: 1 Brendan Clarke, 5 Danny Ventre, 9 Matthew Blinkhorn, 16 Derek Foran.

Booked: None.

Galway United: 1 Greg Fleming; 15 Shaun Kelly, 4 Paul Sinnott (Captain), 6 Sean Kelly, 14 Shane Keogh; 11 Karl Moore (17 Rory Gartland 63), 3 Eduardo Dusi, 10 Alan Murphy (19 Darragh Duggan 71), 7 Bobby Ryan, 8 Brian Cash; 9 Enda Curran (12 Michael Gilmore 49).

Subs not used: 16 Conor Winn, 18 Steve Feeney, 20 Paul Smith.

Booked: Curran (19), Murphy (23), Gartland (82), Eduardo (84), Gilmore (90).

Referee: Rob Rogers (Dublin).