Sligo Rovers 2 - 1 Galway United
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Sligo Rovers signed off their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over Galway United at The Showgrounds on Saturday night. Two second half goals from John Russell and Eoin Doyle cancelled out Jason Mitchell’s header as Rovers prepare for their trip to The Brandywell next Friday.
Rovers had Raffaele Cretaro and Joseph Ndo missing for this encounter and started with five in midfield with Matthew Blinkhorn on his own up front. New signings Jason McGuinness and Brendan Clarke made their Showgrounds debuts for The Bit O’Red. Meanwhile for Galway, former Rovers midfielder Steve Feeney started as a lone striker against his hometown club. New signing Karl Moore also made his debut for Sean Connor’s side.
Rookie Connor Winn was the first keeper in action in the seventh minute as he reacted well to Eoin Doyle’s low shot to his left after the Rovers’ wingers neat one-two with Matthew Blinkhorn. Galway put the home side defence under pressure two minutes later when Karl Moore’s cross from the left found Feeney, but the Sligo man failed to worry Clarke in the home goal.
John Russell almost had Rovers ahead in the 16th minute as his shot hit the post after good work from Matthew Blinkhorn and Eoin Doyle on the right wing. Russell again could have put Rovers ahead soon after when he found himself one on one with Winn, but the former Galway playmaker failed to hit the target.
It was all Sligo Rovers after that as Gavin Peers and Danny Ventre both went close. Peers’ header in the 33rd minute sailed over the bar while six minutes later Ventre went close with a 20 yard shot. Russell again should have put Rovers ahead just before half time, when he rounded Winn in the away goal only for the keeper to find his feet in time to block Russell’s second attempt.
Only 50 seconds into the second half Rovers went ahead through John Russell, and deservedly so. Russell got onto the end of an Iarfliath Davoren pass and did well to slot the ball past Winn to give Rovers the lead.
Chances from Blinkhorn and Ventre could have put Rovers two ahead before Eoin Doyle latched onto John Russell’s through ball to finish past Winn on 53 minutes. Ally Love almost replied for Galway on 61 minutes when he got on the end of Steve Feeney’s cross but his header only found the arms of Brendan Clarke in the Sligo goal.
But seven minutes later The Tribesman found the net. Rovers’ defence failed to pick up Jason Mitchell as his powerful header ended up in Clarke’s net from a Love free kick. Rovers could have wrapped up the result on two occasions and both were through Showgrounds debutants. Firstly Aaron Greene went one on one with Winn but failed to capitalize and Daryl Horgan’s attempted chip 5 minutes towards the end was some way wide of the mark.
Sligo Rovers: Brendan Clarke, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Iarfliath Davoren, John Dillon (Daryl Horgan), Richie Ryan (Aaron Greene), Danny Ventre (Alan Kirby), John Russell (Derek Foran), Eoin Doyle, Matthew Blinkhorn (Mark McGoldrick)
Sub not used: Ciaran Kelly.
Galway United: Conor Winn (Anthony Halvin), Shaun Kelly, Ally Love, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Walsh (Shane Keogh), Jamie McKernon, Josh Horne (Jason Mitchell), Gary Curran (Enda Curran), Steve Feeney (Neil Keane), Sean Kelly (Eduardo de Silva), Karl Moore (Alan Murphy)
Subs not used: Gary Kelly, Rory Gartland
Attendance: 500 (est.)
Rovers had Raffaele Cretaro and Joseph Ndo missing for this encounter and started with five in midfield with Matthew Blinkhorn on his own up front. New signings Jason McGuinness and Brendan Clarke made their Showgrounds debuts for The Bit O’Red. Meanwhile for Galway, former Rovers midfielder Steve Feeney started as a lone striker against his hometown club. New signing Karl Moore also made his debut for Sean Connor’s side.
Rookie Connor Winn was the first keeper in action in the seventh minute as he reacted well to Eoin Doyle’s low shot to his left after the Rovers’ wingers neat one-two with Matthew Blinkhorn. Galway put the home side defence under pressure two minutes later when Karl Moore’s cross from the left found Feeney, but the Sligo man failed to worry Clarke in the home goal.
John Russell almost had Rovers ahead in the 16th minute as his shot hit the post after good work from Matthew Blinkhorn and Eoin Doyle on the right wing. Russell again could have put Rovers ahead soon after when he found himself one on one with Winn, but the former Galway playmaker failed to hit the target.
It was all Sligo Rovers after that as Gavin Peers and Danny Ventre both went close. Peers’ header in the 33rd minute sailed over the bar while six minutes later Ventre went close with a 20 yard shot. Russell again should have put Rovers ahead just before half time, when he rounded Winn in the away goal only for the keeper to find his feet in time to block Russell’s second attempt.
Only 50 seconds into the second half Rovers went ahead through John Russell, and deservedly so. Russell got onto the end of an Iarfliath Davoren pass and did well to slot the ball past Winn to give Rovers the lead.
Chances from Blinkhorn and Ventre could have put Rovers two ahead before Eoin Doyle latched onto John Russell’s through ball to finish past Winn on 53 minutes. Ally Love almost replied for Galway on 61 minutes when he got on the end of Steve Feeney’s cross but his header only found the arms of Brendan Clarke in the Sligo goal.
But seven minutes later The Tribesman found the net. Rovers’ defence failed to pick up Jason Mitchell as his powerful header ended up in Clarke’s net from a Love free kick. Rovers could have wrapped up the result on two occasions and both were through Showgrounds debutants. Firstly Aaron Greene went one on one with Winn but failed to capitalize and Daryl Horgan’s attempted chip 5 minutes towards the end was some way wide of the mark.
Sligo Rovers: Brendan Clarke, Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Iarfliath Davoren, John Dillon (Daryl Horgan), Richie Ryan (Aaron Greene), Danny Ventre (Alan Kirby), John Russell (Derek Foran), Eoin Doyle, Matthew Blinkhorn (Mark McGoldrick)
Sub not used: Ciaran Kelly.
Galway United: Conor Winn (Anthony Halvin), Shaun Kelly, Ally Love, Paul Sinnott, Stephen Walsh (Shane Keogh), Jamie McKernon, Josh Horne (Jason Mitchell), Gary Curran (Enda Curran), Steve Feeney (Neil Keane), Sean Kelly (Eduardo de Silva), Karl Moore (Alan Murphy)
Subs not used: Gary Kelly, Rory Gartland
Attendance: 500 (est.)
