Sligo Rovers 3 - 0 Galway United

The better start by the hosts in the Showgrounds on Saturday evening set the tone for the succeeding ninety minutes as Sligo Rovers ran out easy winners over near neighbours Galway United.

Eoin Doyle continued his glittering form with two goals either side of a John Russell finish condemning Galway to their eighth league defeat on the trot.

Sligo began the brighter and Doyle almost latched onto a Richie Ryan through ball as early as the second minute. John Russell also came close in the ninth minute when he shot just wide of Greg Fleming’s goal. Karl Moore did fire back for Galway in the opening ten minutes but he wasted what would prove be a rare opportunity with a high and loose effort.

The home side’s early dominance finally told in the 16th minute when Aaron Greene burst down the left wing and crossed neatly for Doyle who made no mistake from six yards. Doyle also had a hand in the second goal on 21 minutes when his initial effort was saved by the brilliant Fleming, only for the the ball to fall to John Russell who powered the ball home against his former side from eight yards out.

Indeed, had it not been for Fleming the ‘Bit O'Red’ would have been out of sight by the twenty five minute mark. The Galway custodian made great saves to deny Jason McGuinness, Richie Ryan and Doyle in a frantic few minutes when Sligo peppered the United goal.

The Tribesmen found it difficult to even break out from their own half as both full backs for Sligo were pushed right up in the knowledge that the safety net of Ryan was behind, shielding the defence. In the main, Ryan was the orchestrator for Sligo and not only defended well in that deep midfield position but also instigated all of Sligo’s attacks. He was also the man who maintained possession in times of threatening mediocrity from his side.

As the half wore on Sligo began to rest on their laurels and, while never under pressure from their counterparts, the penetration offered in the opening thirty minutes began to wane, to the obvious consternation of Paul Cook on the sideline.

The half-time break was used to great affect by Cook as he dealt adequately with the widespread apathy in his side. Within four minutes of the restart Doyle had his second of the evening and Sligo’s third. Joseph Ndo galloped forward before finding Alan Keane with a well paced through ball. Keane's first time cross was met with a glancing header by Doyle that took a slight deflection before nestling in Fleming's net.

Whereas in the first half Sligo found space down their left wing, in the second half it was Joseph Ndo doing all the running down the right as his experience against young left back Shane Keogh began to tell. Russell looked to have registered his name again on the scoresheet on the hour mark but the linesman judged Greene to have crossed the endline before he crossed for the opposite winger to head in.

As both managers rang the changes, the second half began to peter out as the hosts were content to keep possession without really testing the United goal. Ndo gratified the crowd with some nice touches down the right wing as only he can, and Richie Ryan made sure of the rearguard security.

As the United players circled the carousel being fuelled by Ndo and Ryan, frustration set in and the visitors recorded no less than five yellow cards. Five yellow cards that could hardly be afforded by the injury ravaged squad.

In truth it could have been five or six nil to the ‘Bit O'Red’ but Cook will be pleased the pressure at the top is still mounting from the Sligo lads, and Eoin Doyle cements his place at the top of the scoring charts with another brace. Sean Connor’s men where thoroughly outclassed on the night. Ultimately the young and the walking wounded could not match the guile and experience offered by the Sligo men.

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly; Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Gavin Peers, Jason McGuinness; Richie Ryan, Joseph Ndo, Aaron Greene (Rafael Cretaro, 80), John Russell (John Dillon, 69), Alan Kirby; Eoin Doyle (Mark McGoldrick, 64).
Subs not used: Brendan Clarke, Danny Ventre, Derek Foran, Matthew Blinkhorn.
Bookings: None.

Galway United: Greg Fleming; Shaun Kelly, Paul Sinnott, Sean Kelly, Shane Keogh; Eduardo de Silva; Bobby Ryan, Karl Moore (Rory Gartland, 62), Alan Murphy (Darragh Duggan,71), Brian Cash; Enda Curran (Mikey Gilmore, 49).
Subs not used: Conor Winn, Stephen Feeney, Paul Smith.
Bookings: Curran (19), Murphy (24), Eduardo (84), Gartland (85), Gilmore (89).

Referee: Rob Rogers.
Attendance: 1,472
Extratime Man of the Match: Richie Ryan.