Sligo Rovers 2

Galway United 1

By Kevin Horgan at the Showgrounds

AFTER being undefeated for four games, Galway United fell to a narrow loss against Sligo Rovers in the Western derby at the Showgrounds on Monday evening.

This was, in fact, the Tribesmen’s first defeat since losing to Sligo at Eamonn Deacy Park last month. With United coming into the game in impressive form, following their victory over St. Patrick’s Athletic last Friday, expectations amongst supporters were high.

It wasn’t to be however, as former Galway player Francely Lomboto’s goal was the difference, late in the second half, in this Premier Division clash.

John Caulfield’s side started the game well and inside the first few minutes they almost took the lead, however Patrick Hickey’s volley following an Ed McCarthy long throw in was smartly saved by Sam Sargeant.

Cian Byrne was next to come close for the visitors in the ninth minute, but his effort from a free kick was again denied by Sligo ‘keeper Sargeant.

Byrne scored a brace in the last meeting between the sides at the Showgrounds, with one of those goals coming from a free kick, in a game that the away side won 2-1.

After this effort, neither team really tested the opposition keeper until late in the half, with both sides solid defensively.

United appeared to flood the midfield as much as possible in the opening half, like their performance at the Showgrounds earlier in the season and they were quite direct in their play, an approach which caused the home side some difficulty.

The visitors somehow failed to take the lead in the 43rd minute when Ed McCarthy’s shot from close-range produced an incredible save from Sargeant, the ball then fell to Hickey but his effort was cleared off the line.

Despite United’s dominance in terms of chances created, just over a minute later the hosts took the lead. Galway’s Robert Slevin failed to clear the ball and attacker Owen Elding picked up possession, before playing Jad Hakiki through on goal, and he finished well to give the home side the lead heading into the break.

Galway United’s Moses Dyer contesting this aerial duel with Carl Axel Sjoberg of St Patrick’s Athletic during Friday night’s Premier Division tie at Eamonn Deacy Park. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.