Report: Sligo Rovers 1-1 Galway United

United shared the spoils for the very first time this season at the Showgrounds, as Ryan Connolly’s early strike was cancelled out by Dinny Corcoran.

The Tribesmen crafted a number of first half opportunities and breakaways in the second, but they couldn’t find a way past Richard Brush.

Both teams traded blows early in the game as the sides came to grips with each other, but it was former Sligo player Ryan Connolly who struck first, when he prodded Jake Keegan’s cross into the bottom corner, following some hesitant Sligo defending.

The lead didn’t last long, however. A ball was allowed to drop in the United box that never should have and the ball was flicked on to Dinny Corcoran, who applied the finishing touch from close range.

Corcoran then combined with his strike partner Morten Nielsen, but the latter floated his header over the crossbar after Corcoran set him up.

Enda Curran threaded a perfectly weighted ball through for the breaking Ryan Connolly, but his dinked effort drifted narrowly wide.

On the half hour mark, Alex Byrne intercepted a sloppy Sligo pass out of defence, before teeing up Enda Curran, who shot from a tight angle. Brush did well to get down and save Curran’s effort.

Stephen Walsh then cannoned an effort off the woodwork and following a Ryan Connolly corner kick, he headed wide at the near post.

The home side had one chance before the break when Estonian, Sander Puri, laid the ball off to Wearen, who struck the ball from distance, but it cleared the crossbar.

Sligo were more purposeful in the second half and David O’Leary was well-placed to deny Dinny Corcoran a second goal, when he cleared his effort off the line.

Wearen opted to shoot from range again, on the hour mark, but again he couldn’t keep his shot down and it drifted over the crossbar.

Kevin Garcia won the ball in the air, heading forward to Curran, who had a snapshot, but it was straight at Sligo netminder Brush.

Brush was called into action again when he dived at the feet of Cunningham bravely to smother the ball.

There was a moment of controversy in the 77th minute when Brush clattered into Ryan Connolly in the box, getting nowhere near the ball, but referee Anthony Buttimer wasn’t interested in Connolly’s protests.

United’s best chance of the second half fell to substitute Padraic Cunningham, but after receiving the cross from Connolly, he couldn’t get the required power on the ball to truly test Richard Brush.

Corcoran and Ward had late opportunities for the hosts but it was United that had to be content with a draw, when perhaps three points were there for the taking.

NEXT UP: Galway United welcome league leaders Dundalk FC to Eamonn Deacy Park on Tuesday evening for a re-fixed league fixture. Kick-off: 7.45pm.

PHOTOS BY PITCHSIDE PHOTO – www.pitchsidephoto.com

Sligo Rovers (4-4-2): Brush; Keane, Peers, Boylan, Ledwith (Donelon 54); Cretaro (Ward 74), Cawley©, Wearen, Puri; Nielsen (Armstrong 67), Corcoran
Unused substitutes: Coulter (GK), Dykes, Flatley, McManus
Goalscorer: Corcoran 16
Booked: Wearen 50

Galway United (4-2-3-1): Winn; Horgan, Sinnott©, Walsh, Ludden; Byrne, O’Leary; Keegan, Connolly, Garcia (Shanahan 67); Curran (Cunningham 67)
Unused substitutes: Hanley (GK), Raftery, Cantwell, O’Donovan, Barry
Goalscorers: Connolly 10
Booked: Connolly 73

Referee: Anthony Buttimer (Cork)

Official attendance: 1,698