United are battered again by Sligo Rovers

Date Published: {J}

JASON BYRNE at the showgrounds

The gap between Connacht rivals Sligo Rovers and Galway United has never been greater. As the Showgrounds faithful stood up to applaud their team as they walked off the pitch on Saturday night, there was a real sense among the Bit O’Red that the league title may very well head to the north west.

Across the ground, a small band of dejected Galway United supporters watched their drenched team slowly trudge down the tunnel, wondering once again where it all went horribly wrong.Rovers were emphatic; sealing their biggest home win since 1939. United were pathetic, and as their opponents near the title, Galway United are on the verge of becoming the first League of Ireland side ever to concede 100 goals.

The game was delayed by 35 minutes due to floodlight failure which would prove to be the only blip on Sligo’s evening. After early dominance, Aaron Greene played a sharp one-two with John Russell and Greene poked home to give Paul Cooke’s men the lead in the 15th minute

John Brennan’s immediate reaction was to haul off Laurence Gaughan and replace him with Eduardo Dusi, but the move would make little difference, and the game was over as a contest in the 23rd minute.

Greene found himself through on goal again and just as he was about to shoot, Ronan Caldwell dragged him back by the jersey. No doubt about the penalty, and no doubt about the red card or the resulting spot-kick from John Dillon to double Sligo’s lead.

Four minutes later, Alan Keane powered up the right flank and found the waiting Russell, whose drive came off the upright and fell to Matthew Blinkhorn who made no mistake from close range.Finally on the half hour mark, United managed a shot on goal, when Alan Murphy had a go from distance, but failed to trouble Brendan Clarke.

Five minutes before the break Sligo made it four – this time Joseph Ndo passing a low free across to the edge of the box and Keane was at hand to rasp home.

Ten minutes after the restart, an inevitable fifth arrived when Russell again provided from the right and Blinkhorn slid in to slot past John Egan. On the hour mark, Galway United netted a consolation out of nowhere as Oscar Sibanda did well to control Sean Kelly’s ball on his chest before lobbing over Clarke into the corner of the net.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.