Kavanagh strikes as Sligo edge Galway in vital derby win

The win sees Sligo climb out of the relegation places. 

Half-time substitute Cian Kavanagh got a 54th minute winner for Sligo Rovers against Galway United. Pic: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

SSE Airtricity Premier Division: Galway United 0 Sligo Rovers 1 

Sligo Rovers won more than bragging rights in a crucial Connacht Derby win in Galway. The 1-0 victory helped the Bit O’ Red climb out of the relegation places for the first time since the start of the season.

The importance of the occasion hung heavily in the air and put some shackles on the contest initially.

Galway United, with a unique midfield pairing of Rob Slevin and Aaron Bolger, enjoyed the best of the opening quarter.

They caused a couple of dangerous moments. Jimmy Keohane could have done better after United went long from the back. Garry Buckley had a shot deflected wide, while Slevin’s header from the resulting corner needed to be helped off the line.

Sligo did settle and showed some nice flourishes, with Ryan O’Kane and Jad Hakiki catching the eye on the right. Hakiki and Owen Elding combined beautifully on a couple of occasions late in the half, but both failed to get their shots off after carving out openings.

It wasn’t enough to satisfy John Russell, who dropped Elding into midfield and brought Cian Kavanagh on to play up front. Sligo were menacing after the break. Again, Hakiki and Elding were close, the former missing a gilt-edged chance for a precious opener.

Elding’s shot brought a save from Clarke. The resulting corner was won deep by Patrick McClean who headed towards goal. Clarke miscalculated, hoping he could win it. Instead, the substitute Kavanagh’s glanced header carried over him and into the net.

Although they had been hurting their Connacht rivals, Sligo sat in to protect their lead. Ciaron Harkin and Matthew Wolfe were brought on to bring energy to the midfield.

United piled forward. Jeremy Sivi gave them an outlet on the right and Stephen Walsh made his presence felt up front. They forced set-pieces and got crosses in, but the visitors dealt well with it.

Gareth McElroy showed strength and maturity beyond his years, helping to marshal the defence. United did manage to force a few openings however, and Dara McGuinness had the pick of the chances when a knock-down fell kindly to him deep in the box. Sargeant managed to scramble to make the save.

The missed chance sucked the energy out of the stadium and the home team’s challenge ran out of steam. Sligo saw the game out professionally, frustrating their rivals at every turn and putting themselves back in what they see as their rightful position, ahead of their Connacht counterparts.

GALWAY UNITED: Clarke; Esua, Brouder (Borden 86), Buckley, Burns; McCarthy (Walsh 64), Bolger (Sivi 64), Hickey, Slevin, Keohane; McGuinness 

SLIGO ROVERS: Sargeant; Agbaje, McElroy, McClean, Stewart (Harkin 63); O’Kane (McDonagh 82), Hakiki, McManus (Wolfe 63), Quirk (Kavanagh 45), Fitzgerald; Elding 

Referee: P Norton