Galway come from behind to draw
GALWAY United came from behind to earn a point at The Showgrounds on Saturday night.
Gerard Lyttle’s side went ahead on ten minutes thanks to Jonah Ayunga, but former player Stephen Folan came back to haunt his former employers when his 24th minute strike made it one apiece.
Manager Lyttle would have earmarked this game as a must win following their disappointing 0- 0 draw with Finn Harps prior to the mid- season break.
Galway too were desperate for a victory in this Connacht derby having won just two games this season - Rovers are only one ahead, winning three games.
Rovers’ lack of depth in attacking areas has been highlighted numerous times by Lyttle, and that was apparent in the latter stages of the game - although Rovers did start well.
Kieran Sadlier’s free- kick was almost sent goalwards by Mick Leahy just minutes in, but the Dubliner’s effort was just off target.
The hosts continued to attack, and got their just rewards ten minutes in. Sadlier linked up well with Liam Martin, before sending Ayunga down the right wing.
The Brighton & Hove Albion winger surged down the right hand side, and under pressure from Lee Grace managed to tuck the ball into the net at a difficult angle to give Rovers the lead with his fourth goal of the season.
Shane Keegan’s side were making good use of long throwins, and Marc Ludden’s throw- in could have been dangerous, but Paul Sinnott could only send it wide of the target.
Galway were then awarded a free- kick in a dangerous area when Leahy was adjudged to have fouled Gary Shanahan on the edge of the box - picking up a yellow card for his troubles.
Ronan Murray took on the task, but could only send his free- kick straight at the Sligo Rovers wall.
Ludden again launched a long throw in towards the Rovers box. Micheal Schlingermann leaped off his line in an attempt to clear the danger, but he dropped the ball and could only watch as it fell into the path of former player Fola.
The Galway native needed little more than a poke to send it over the line for 1- 1 after 24 minutes.
Raffaele Cretaro thought he had given Rovers the lead again after 26 minutes, but the linesman’s flag had been raised.
Liam Martin and Tobi Adebayo- Rowling tried their luck prior to half- time, but they failed to really trouble Conor Winn in the Galway goal.
Rovers were looking a bit more dangerous than their Galway counterparts at the start of the second- half, but again were doing little to trouble the Tribesmen’s netminder.
A cross from Adebayo- Rowling was headed for a dangerous area, but Lee Grace’s crucial intervention stopped it from getting a flick on by a Rovers player.
Ronan Murray and Folan did their best to beat Schlingermann as the clocked ticked down, but really did not trouble the Mayo man in goal.
The visitors were reduced to ten men on 92 minutes when Marc Ludden was given his second yellow card of the evening, but at that stage, it had little bearing on the game.
Up next for Rovers is a visit to Dalymount Park on Friday evening where they face Bohemian FC - a game that has now become a must win as Rovers aim to move away from the relegation zone.
Sligo Rovers: Micheal Schlingermann; Tobi Ade- bayo- Rowling, Michael Leahy, Kyle Callan- McFadden, Regan Donelon; Kieran Sadlier, John Russell, Craig Roddan ( Gary Boylan, 78), Liam Martin; Jonah Ayunga, Raffaele Cretaro ( Mikey Place, 88).
Subs: Shaun Patton, Paul Doyle, John Mahon, Seamus Sharkey, Jack Keaney.
Finn Harps: Conor Winn; Marc Ludden, Stephen Folan, Lee Grace, Colm Horgan; Kevin Devaney, Paul Sinnott, Ronan Murray, Alex Byrne; Gary Shanahan ( Conor Melody, 90), Vinny Faherty ( Padraic Cunningham, 90).
Subs: James Tierney, Eoin McCormack, Maurice Nugent, Aaron Conway, Robert Spelman.
Referee: Graham Kelly