Friendly Report: Galway United 1 - 0 Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers fell to their first defeat of 2017 against Galway United as Ronan Murray's neat chipped effort won the tie late on for the home team at Eamonn Deacy Park.

The visitors came in to the game on the back of wins against Ballinamallard and Westport United and it was they who took the initiative early on the first as a Kieran Sadlier's shot from 30 yards went sailing over former Sligo keeper Ciaran Nugent's crossbar.

Next it was Galway's turn to attack and a Vinny Faherty's glancing header flashed just past the face of Micheal Schlingermann's goal, and Schlingermann dealt comfortably with a Paul Sinnott effort after Liam Martin conceded possession close to the centre circle.

At this stage it was all Galway United, and another former Sligo player, Stephen Folan, was next to go close. Callan-McFadden upended Faherty before Folan's bending effort narrowly avoided Schlingermann's crossbar.

Folan again went close when he whipped in another dangerous set piece which sailed past the post shortly before half time.

On 53 minutes a mis-hit ball from Gavan Holohan almost deceived Schlingermann after it caught the breeze but thankfully for Sligo Schlingermann recovered well to gather the ball.

Just past the hour Kieran Sadlier shot wide from the outside of his left boot and four minutes later Raffaele Cretaro brought a super save out of Conor Winn as he met Gary Boylan's cross from the right.

Gavan Holohan was a constant thorn in the Sligo side and on 74 minutes the former Cork City winger again had a shot that's went narrowly wide of Schlingermann's post.

With the game drawing to a close, it was Shane Keegan's charges who found that all elusive goal when Murray found himself in space and neatly dinked the ball over Schlingermann to give Galway the one-goal win.

While the game was a good run out for both teams, the win will inspire Galway going in to the new season. They have their heads up, and under Keegan they'll be a force in the Premier Division.

Sligo Rovers disappointed in their first real test of the pre season. With a trip to Longford coming up on Tuesday, manager Dave Robertson will be hoping for a morale boosting win before they visit Limerick on the opening day.

Galway United: Ciaran Nugent (Conor Winn 46); Colm Horgan (Maurice Nugent 61), Lee Grace, Stephen Folan (Robert Spelman 74), Marc Ludden (Gary Kinneen 74); Jesse Devers (Ronan Murray 74), Paul Sinnott (Gary Shanahan 46), David Cawley, Conor Melody (Aaron Conway 74); Gavan Holohan (Declan Sharkey 74); Vinny Faherty (Padraic Cunningham 61).

Subs not used: None.

Sligo Rovers: Micheál Schlingermann; Tobi Adebayo-Rowling (Gary Boylan 51), Mick Leahy (John Mahon 80), Kyle Callan-McFadden, Regan Donelon; Kieran Sadlier, Chris Kenny (Jack Keaney 87), John Russell (Daniel Kearns 46), Liam Martin (Craig Roddan 46); Matthew Stevens (Raffaele Cretaro 62), Jonah Ayunga (Mikey Place 62).

Subs not used: Mark Hannon, Paul Doyle.

Referee: Marc Lynch.

Extratime.ie Player of the Match: Ronan Murray (Galway United).