Byrne brace takes Galway third after derby win over Sligo Rovers
Cian Byrne of Galway United. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
TWO excellent goals from Cian Byrne gave Galway United victory over bottom-of-the-table Sligo Rovers at The Showgrounds in the season's first Connacht derby, This win moves Galway up to third in the standings against struggling opponents who halved the deficit through Owen Elding’s fourth goal of the season.
Sligo, who hadn’t won since March 3 when they defeated Shamrock Rovers, were without suspended duo Jake Doyle-Hayes and Cian Kavanagh, but John Mahon and Jad Hakiki returned following their one-match bans due to the accumulation of yellow cards.
Galway started the game five places and nine points better off than their provincial rivals but came into this fixture on the back of a 1-0 home loss to Shamrock Rovers.
A blow for John Caulfield’s side was the absence through suspension of striker Moses Dyer.
A quirk of the Connacht derby was that the Tribesmen hadn’t tasted victory in a league game at this venue since 1996 - a stat that they eventually changed here.
Sligo took the game to the visitors from the off but were frustrated by Galway’s industry.
The home side’s captain John Mahon, who had half a chance when a corner delivery from Ronan Manning found him, was later effective in his own box with a block on a goal effort from Jimmy Keohane.
Another good attempt for Galway - David Hurley with the shot this time - was thwarted by Gareth McElroy.
Sligo’s first serious shot was a low drive from Will Fitzgerald that was held by Galway goalkeeper Evan Watts.
Galway opened the scoring after 21 minutes. It stemmed from Killian Brouder’s long throw into the Sligo penalty area and an underhit clearance broke for Cian Byrne who swept a tidy shot into the bottom corner of Conor Walsh’s net.
The next big chance for Galway was Patrick Hickey’s on-target header from a Greg Cunningham cross.
Cian Byrne, on loan at Galway from Bohemians, had sight of goal again after smart play by wing-back Jeannot Esua, but Sligo cleared the danger.
Galway doubled their lead three minutes into the second-half. From a free-kick just outside the area, first-half goalscorer Cian Byrne netted with a beautifully-struck effort.
Vincent Borden’s shot was dealt with by Sligo goalkeeper Conor Walsh as Galway looked likely to score a third.
Owen Elding blasted over from a terrific Jad Hakiki through ball which was Sligo’s clearest opportunity to get back into the game after 60 minutes.
Elding went even closer five minutes later when his close-range effort came off the crossbar after a clever pass over the top from Ronan Manning.
The young striker finally scored from his third significant chance - he converted from the spot in the 71st minute after a penalty was awarded by referee Paul McLoughlin after a foul on Ronan Manning.
Jimmy Keohane’s deflected shot, which led to a corner for the visitors, was a sign that Galway, although under increasing pressure, were still capable of hurting the hosts.
Sligo brought on ex-Galway striker Francely Lomboto for the closing stages but it was Galway who almost got a third but substitute Stephen Walsh’s effort was superbly saved by Sligo goalkeeper Conor Walsh.
Walsh; Reynolds (Van Hattum 54), McElroy, Mahon, Hutchinson; Wolfe (Mallon 54), Malley (Lomboto 86); Hakiki, Manning, Fitzgerald; Elding
Watts; Esua, Slevin, Brouder, Cunningham, Burns (Walsh 72); Byrne, Hurley (Kerrigan 79), Borden; Keohane, Hickey
Paul McLaughlin
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