Galway FC put five past Sligo Rovers in preseason friendly

Sligo Rovers 3

Galway FC began life in impressive style on Saturday night when they defeated FAI Cup holders Sligo Rovers in a friendly that was played on the all-weather pitch at Mervue, after the game was moved from Eamonn Deacy Park due to the weather.

Goals from Vinny Faherty (2), Ryan Connolly, Ryan Manning and Marty Owens sealed a very impressive win, and while preseason results should always be taken with a pinch of salt, the win will give the new side a major boost ahead of the start of the season on March 7, when they host Longford Town in Eamonn Deacy Park.

Both sides played two different XIs in each half, and it was the visitors who opened the scoring in the seventh minute when North fired past Conor Gleeson. The lead lasted just a minute, however, when Faherty fired home from close range after Manning was denied by a Richard Brush save.

Galway FC took the lead when Connolly curled a free-kick into the bottom corner of Brush’s net, and they extended their lead on the half-hour mark when Faherty grabbed his second of the game, Faherty turning home a cross from Jake Keegan.

They added a fourth just before the break when Manning let fly from 30 yards, and his shot – which had the wind behind it – flew past Brush and into the net via the crossbar.

Marty Owens made it 5-1 in the 51st minute when getting on the end of Aaron McDonagh’s ball, but the visitors managed to salvage some pride when Paul O’Connor and Joseph Ndo each pulled a goal back, with Ndo’s coming direct from a corner kick, but that was as close as they got.

He has signed 21 players, and has gone for a local feel for the side – 19 of the squad are from either Galway or Mayo; while Gary Shanahan is a Limerick man but spent last year on the books of Mervue United, leaving New York native Jake Keegan as the only player not from the West coast.

Galway FC’s next friendly is against Limerick FC this Thursday night, February 6, at the ground of Moyne Villa in Headford. They will also host Athlone Town in Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday February 21.