Galway United 0 - 0 Sligo Rovers

• Alan Dooley
• Tue, May 04 2010


Galway United and Sligo Rovers played out the ninth scoreless draw of the 2010 Premier Division campaign at Terryland Park, a result that keeps the Galwegians ahead of their Yeats County rivals in the table, although Paul Cook's men have a game in hand.

This was a result that will definitely please Cook's opposite number Sean Connor more, as his injury and illness depleted side put up a brave defensive performance to withstand some intense pressure from the Bit O'Red, whose best chances fell to Matthew Blinkhorn and second half substitute Padraig Amond.

Galway began minus the services of in-form striker Anthony Flood, late withdrawal Bobby Ryan, as well as Stephen O'Donnell, Derek O'Brien and Alan Murphy. In these circumstances the point gained must be viewed as a positive, while Sligo's tally of draws now climbs to seven.

The first half was one that will not be remembered with great fondness or recalled when the fans meet to discuss their cherished memories of the 2010 season. Midfield stagnation was the order of the day, on a pitch that was in use only 24 hours previously, and this led to a period that produced only three moments of pulse-altering action.

The first of these came on 12 minutes when midfielder Conor O'Grady, restored to the Bit O'Red side due to his propensity for greatness when faced with a maroon jersey, got into the box to head Eoin Doyle's left wing cross tamely at Barry Ryan.

What little creative passing was coming from Paul Cook's outfit, primarily from the talented boots of Joseph Ndo, and when they won their first corner, Derek Foran also got free to connect with a header, but his effort cleared the crossbar by a good ten feet. Karl Sheppard, as elusive and threatening as ever for Galway, carved through a narrow channel on the right before being halted in the area by a strong challenge from Gavin Peers. Both penalty and corner appeals were turned away.

The most meaningful action was saved for a two minute spell just before the half hour mark when first Ndo latched onto a misplaced Jamie McKenzie header but shot into the side netting when well placed. In the next attack, Galway's Rhys Meynell was crowded out of a shot but managed to float over a cross that Cian McBrien volleyed narrowly wide of Richard Brush's right-hand post.

The half meandered from there to the whistle, with Galway's depleted side the happier to go in on level terms. Paul Cook's motivational abilities were going to be called upon and his side got off to a brighter beginning to the second half when Richie Ryan tested Barry Ryan for the first time from distance within the first five minutes.

The action soon returned to its pedestrian pace, though, with Richard Brush's rare involvement coming when having to dash out to intercept a potential through ball from Gary Curran; Gary McCabe headed over the bar from Doyle's cross moments earlier.

It was to be the winger's last involvement as he was replaced by Padraig Amond, Rovers top scorer, who was soon into the action. Not before Matthew Blinkhorn had wasted a rare clear cut opportunity though, when Ndo slipped him in but Ryan saved from the striker before James Creaney cleared the danger.

Amond soon had the Galway defence on tenterhooks when he read Seamus Conneely's intentions well and cut out his back pass but snatched at his effort when there was maybe more time and Ryan again was the home side's saviour.

Sligo were very much on the front foot now, with only rare Galway forays into their half to test their defensive unit. With Sligo failing to break through the United rearguard, Tom King went closest for the home side when his shot was blocked by team-mate Gary Curran.

Further chances fell to Curran and Blinkhorn but neither were able to make them tell and the spoils were shared on a frustrating night for Sligo Rovers.

Galway United:Barry Ryan; Rhys Meynell, Paul Sinnott, Jamie McKenzie, Seamus Conneely; Cian McBrien, Thomas Heary, Gary Curran, Cian McBrien, Tom King (Jason Molloy, 91); Karl Sheppard.
Unused Subs: Dan Keady, Ciaran Foley.

Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Alan Keane, Gavin Peers, Derek Foran, Danny Ventre; Eoin Doyle (John Dillon, 74), Conor O'Grady, Richie Ryan, Gary McCabe (Padraig Amond, 62); Matthew Blinkhorn, Joseph Ndo.
Unused Subs: Ciaran Kelly, Mark Doninger, Jason McCartney.

Referee: Alan Kelly.

Attendance: 925.

extratime Man of the Match: Paul Sinnott.