Sligo Rovers 2
Galway United 1
ACHILLE CAMPION WAS the Sligo Rovers hero as his 92nd minute goal grabbed all three points against Galway United at the Showgrounds.
The visitors took the lead shortly after the interval thanks to Gary Shanahan, with Raffaele Cretaro equalising on 79 minutes, before Campion struck in the dying seconds to give Sligo Rovers a very late victory.
With just four points separating these two sides heading into the game, Tommy Dunne knew that a victory was needed if his side would fight for a top half finish this season.
But it was the hosts who enjoyed the stronger start to the game, with the in-form Cretaro causing Galway United a host of problems.
Cretaro, who just signed a contract with Rovers for 2017, fought his way past Stephen Walsh on the right hand side before sending in a cross from the byline for Liam Martin, who failed to get enough power behind his effort to trouble Conor Winn in goal.
The 34-year-old’s shot from distance minutes later went just wide of Winn’s post, a let-off for Tommy Dunne’s side who were forced to sit back in their own half for a period before they really announced themselves in this game.
Marc Ludden’s cross looked destined for the head of Shanahan, but Donegal man Liam Martin leaped highest to make a vital clearance in front of goal.
The visitors remained patient when it came to opportunities and they were rewarded when they took the lead on 48 minutes.
Striker Enda Curran saw his close range shot saved by Schlingermann, and the alert Shanahan pounced on the clearance to nod into the net.
The hosts almost equalised seconds later when Daniel Kearns burst forward, attempting a chip over Winn who was off his line, but there was too much power behind his effort.
Rovers did have a legitimate penalty claim before the hour mark, when Cretaro appeared to be pushed in the back in the Galway area, but referee Dave McKeown was unconvinced.
The hosts were looking dangerous and they got their just rewards on 79 minutes when Cretaro made it 1-1.
The veteran gained possession from distance, took one touch and unleashed an unstoppable effort past Winn to make it honours even with his ninth league goal of the season.
Cretaro wasn’t finished for the evening yet, as he did all the work to earn Sligo a famous victory. The Sligo native sent a ball across the box in the last few seconds, with French striker Campion connecting excellently with a neat flick into the back of the net, cruelly sending Galway home with nothing.
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann, Tobi Adebayo Rowling, Michael Leahy, Gary Boylan, Jimmy Keohane, Craig Roddan, John Russell, Daniel Kearns (Kieran Sadlier, 70), Liam Martin, Achille Campion, Raffaele Cretaro.
Subs: Ciaran Nugent, Regan Donelon, Pat McCann, Phil Roberts, Mikey Place.
Galway United: Conor Winn, Marc Ludden, Armin Aganovic, Paul Sinnott, Colm Horgan, Ryan Connolly, Gary Shanahan, Conor Melody (Alex Byrne, 75), Stephen Walsh, Kilian Cantwell, Enda Curran (Vinny Faherty, 64).
Subs: Sam Ramsbottom, Kevin Devaney, Stephen Folan, Padraig Cunningham, Jose Garcia.
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