League Report: Sligo Rovers 2 - 1 Galway United

Second half goals from Raffaele Cretaro and Achile Campion saw Sligo Rovers beat Galway United 2-1 in the Connacht Derby

Gary Shanahan had given the home side the lead early in the second half only for a dominant Sligo to fight back and secure the win in the dying moments.

In a dour start to the game, it was Sligo Rovers who had the better start to the game as both sides attempted to find their feet.

The game sprung to life on the thirteenth minute when Raffaele Cretaro broke in to Galway's box, the ball fell to Liam Martin and his shot was saved by Conor Winn and was eventually cleared by the Galway defence.

A minute later Cretaro again was causing problems for the Galway defence. His shot from outside the box went just wide.

Liam Martin saved Sligo's blushes when a mistake from Tobi Adebayo-Rowling allowed Galway to break down the right. The ball came to Conor Melody whose cross evaded everyone including Micheál Schlingermann but Martin was at the back post to clear the ball out for only Galway's corner of the first half.

As the half drew to a close this time it was Adebayo-Rowling who was on hand for another goal-line header away as Galway attacked down the left hand side.

Rovers had 10 corners in the first half but only troubled Galway keeper Winn once, while Schlingermann wasn't called in to action at all.

As the teams came out for the second half it was Rovers who were again on the front foot, but a Galway break saw United take the lead thanks to a Gary Shanahan header. Enda Curran had the initial chance but his shot was parried by Schlingermann and Shanahan was on hand for an easy header in to the net.

Straight away from the kick off Daniel Kearns broke in to the Galway box but his shot went agonisingly over the bar. 

Just before the hour, John Russell tried his luck from distance but it went just wide of the Galway goal. 

As the game threatened to boil over Craig Rodden got in to a shoving match with the Galway bench as he went to collect a ball. The fourth official got involved and he ended up getting a shove from Rodden.

Kieran Sadlier took Sligo's eleventh corner which rolled across the Galway goal line with no Rovers players there to slot the ball in to the Galway net.

A minute later Raffaele Cretaro shot from 30 yards and his shot found the bottom corner of the Galway net to put both teams even with 11 minutes left. 

As Rovers were still celebrating the goal, Galway broke down the field and Shanahan had his shot saved by Schlingermann as the keeper charged out to close the channels. 

As the game drew to a close Achile Campion was found by a Raffaele Cretaro cross and his flick in to the back of the net sent the home fans in to raptures. 

Galway will feel they did enough to at least draw the game tonight. Dave Robertson's side, though, were worthy winners having 79% of the possession over all. The win keeps Rovers fifth in the league while Galway remain eighth.

Sligo Rovers: Michael Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling, Gary Boylan, Michael Leahy, Jimmy Keohane; Liam Martin, Criag Rodden (C), John Russell, Daniel Kearns (Kieran Sadlier 70); Raffaele Cretaro, Achile Campion

Subs Not Used: Ciaran Nugent (gk), Pat Mc Cann, Mikey Place, Regan Donelon, Phil Roberts.

Galway United: Conor Winn; Colm Horgan, Killian Cantwell, Armin Aganovic, Marc Ludden; Paul Sinnott, Ryan Connolly (C),  Stephen Walsh, Conor Melody (Alex Byrne 75), Gary Shanahan; Enda Curran (Vinny Faherty 64), 

Subs Not Used: Sam Ramsbottom (gk), Jose Garcia, Kevin Devaney, Pardaic Cunningham, Stephen Folan.

Referee: David Mc Keon

Attendance: 1,524.

Extratime Man of the Match: Raffaele Cretaro (Sligo Rovers).

You can view John Doyle's photos from this game here.