Galway Utd passed off the park as Showgrounds bogey strikes again

Sligo Rovers 3Galway United 0

Keith Kelly

AS the debate about the morality or otherwise of corporal punishment prompts plenty of debate around the water coolers of Ireland, Sligo Rovers left no one in any doubt about their attitude on the matter after handing Galway United a right spanking in the Showgrounds on Friday night.

Sean Connor’s side had travelled to the home of their provincial rivals looking for a first league win at the ground in 14 years, but they did so without the suspended Stephen O’Donnell, and the city native was sorely missed as Sligo completely dominated midfield, even when they were reduced to 10 men just five minutes into the second half.

Connor urged his players in the dressing room before the game to channel their “frustration and disappointment” from last Monday’s draw with Bray Wanderers into Friday night’s game, but they failed to rise to that challenge, and with everything going on at the club, there is a chance we are witnessing not only the disintegration of the squad, but also of the club itself.

It may sound alarmist, but there are worrying noises surrounding the club. Gates have been poor, and even a reduced admission price and an appeal to the public for support at last Monday’s game with Bray Wanderers failed to really make an impact – a crowd of 1,215 was announced, which is the same as 810 people paying in at the usual ticket price of €15.

United were a goal down on Friday night when Connor withdrew striker Anto Flood in the 40th minute, replacing him with Thomas Heary, who normally plays centre back. Hardly a move to get you back into the game, and while Connor was coy about discussing the change after the game, you get the feeling Flood may have played his last game for United, whether or not his touted move to St Mirren in Scotland comes to pass.

“When we play any team, particularly away from home, we need 11 players on the park,” Connor cryptically said after the game. When asked was this in reference to the performance of Flood, he said “I don’t want to get into it” before expanding on the point when pressed.“He didn’t do what he was asked to do. He was given a particular role he was asked to do, he wasn’t doing it, and you can only put up with that for so long,” Connor said. The United manager went on to say he felt Richie Ryan was running the game from midfield and he needed someone to ‘sit’ on him, which is why he brought in Heary.

Surely there is an argument that one of Gary Curran or Ciaran Foley could have been ordered to do that job, and leave two strikers on the pitch as United were already behind. Flood went straight to the dressing room when substituted, and later claimed he felt a twinge in his hamstring, but there appears to be more to the situation than either explanation offered.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.