Late Wolfe strike earns Galway United dramatic win over 10-man Sligo Rovers

With it looking all set to finish in a draw, a late cross by David Hurley deep into stoppage time was met on the volley by Wolfe who struck beautifully into the top corner to snatch a dramatic victory

Galway United manager John Caulfield. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

A late Matty Wolfe strike saw Galway United earn a dramatic 3-2 victory over ten-man Sligo Rovers in a sun-soaked Connacht derby at Pearse Stadium.

Sligo kicked off and after resisting some early pressure from the home side, it was the visitors who carved out the first clear chance when a loose ball fell to Sebastian Quirk but his shot flew high and wide of the bar.

Quirk remained at the heart of Sligo's attacking play, forcing Hugo Pires da Cunha into a full-stretch save with a powerful long-range effort. 

Although Rovers grew into the game as the first half wore on, it was the home side who finally broke the deadlock. Galway captain Jimmy Keohane burst into the Sligo penalty area before cutting the ball back for Pierrot who poked the ball home to give Galway a deserved lead heading into the half-time interval.

John Russell made two half-time substitutions for Sligo as they looked to get themselves back in the game, however their luck worsened when a late challenge on Pierrot saw Quirk pick up his second booking as referee Aaron O’Dowd brandished the red card to put Rovers down to ten men.

Galway began to dominate with Pierrot and Walsh both going close to extending the hosts' advantage. Sligo's best chance of the second half arrived with 20 minutes remaining when da Cunha produced a superb goal-line block to deny the visitors, however the rebound fell kindly to substitute Matty Wolfe who ran the length of the pitch before coolly slotting past Sargeant to double the Tribesmen’s lead.

John Caulfield made a raft of changes as the game entered its closing stages, and Sligo capitalised when Jamie McGonigle's incisive pass released Cian Kavanagh through on goal, the substitute calmly slotting beyond da Cunha to make it 2-1 with ten minutes remaining. 

The away side were sparked into life, and Pearse Stadium was shell-shocked just minutes later when a long ball from Oliver Denham was nodded into McGonigle's path, and the forward once more turned provider as he found Kavanagh who coolly finished to level the contest with five minutes remaining.

With the third Connacht derby of the season looking all set to finish in a draw, a late cross by David Hurley deep into stoppage time was met on the volley by Wolfe who struck beautifully into the top corner to snatch a dramatic victory for Galway and leave Sligo rooted firmly at the foot of the League of Ireland Premier Division.

Galway United: Da Cunha; Williams, Barratt (McCormack 77’), Brouder, Facchineri (Kavanagh 66’), Bolger (Piesold 77’), Keohane (c), McCarthy (Devitt 66’), Walsh, Pierrot (Wolfe 66’).

Sligo Rovers: Sargeant; Esua, Stewart (Denham (60’), McElroy, McHale, McHugh, Quirk, O’Kane (Harkin 60’), Fitzgerald, Meekison (Kavanagh 45’), Pearce (McGonigle 45’).

Referee: Aaron O’Dowd (Dublin)