Galway United 0
Sligo Rovers 1
SLIGO ROVERS WON the opening Connacht Derby of the season thanks to an early spot kick converted brilliantly by Dinny Corcoran as Galway were left to rue more bad luck and missed chances.
From as early as the fifth minute, Owen Heary’s men asserted their dominance after referee Neil Doyle awarded the visitors a penalty when Raf Cretaro was bundled off the ball by United custodian Ger Hanley inside the box. From 12 yards out, Corcoran made sure he didn’t miss.
A deflated home team spent the rest of the opening half trying in vain to fashion any real clear-cut chances as they were reduced to playing long through-balls in a desperate effort to claw back a goal.
Indeed, it took them until the 40th and 45th minute before they produced anything of note as first, Enda Curran’s effort inside the box flew high and wide of the target and then Ryan Connolly produced a long-range effort that Richard Brush gathered well.
Following the restart, a resurgent Tribesmen enjoyed a decent spell of pressure inside 10 minutes which saw Stephen Walsh come close with a bullet header from a Ryan Connolly corner in the 50th minute.
Then in the 61st minute, a deep Gary Shanahan cross from the right flank nearly found Ryan Connolly and Enda Curran lurking at the back post, but neither player could connect with the opportunity.
Just moments later, another half chance came their way when a cleared Connolly corner bobbled its way out to David O’ Leary but he squandered the opportunity with a wayward shot from 25 yards.
The introduction of the towering Morten Nielsen gave Sligo a target man for the last quarter of the game and he nearly made an immediate impact with a header from close range, but Hanley stood tall to catch it.
Late chances for both sides arrived in the final quarter as Padraic Cunningham and Nielsen came close, but there was to be no more goals as Sligo grabbed an important win, despite not creating a great amount.
GALWAY UNITED: Ger Hanley, Alex Byrne, Colm Horgan, Kevin Garcia, Gary Shanahan, Paul Sinnott, David O’ Leary Ryan Connolly, Stephen Walsh, Enda Curran, Jake Keegan (Padraic Cunningham 68).
SLIGO ROVERS: Richard Brush, Stephen Folan, Jake Dykes, Kevin Devaney, Raf Cretaro (Eoin Wearen 82), Steven Beattie (Sander Puri 49), Gary Boylan, John Russell, Ryan McManus, Dinny Corcoran (Morten Nielsen 65), David Cawley.
Referee: Neil Doyle
Man of the Match: Dinny Corcoran