Not for the first time in the past year the Sligo footballers had too much for Galway when a game was in the balance and was there to be won.
There was little between the sides on the scoreboard last Sunday at the finish, but no one could say that the Yeats’ men did not deserve their win. They defeated a disappointing Galway outfit by 0-9 to 1-4 in Enniscrone in the final round of the FBD league.
Galway started positively enough and a well-taken goal by Danny Cummins after 16 minutes put Galway into a 1-2 to 0-1 lead and things looked relatively rosy.
However that maroon glow did not last too long in the freezing cold as Galway did not score again in that half.
Sligo totally took over proceedings to score 0-3 on the trot, leaving Galway one to the good at the small whistle, but not in control of any sector. The Sligo half back line were very dominant at that stage of the game and picked up a world of ball.
Unfortunately things went from bad to worse for Alan Mulholland's men from a scoring perspective and his charges were held scoreless by a hard-working and resolute Sligo outfit for more than 42 minutes of play. By that stage Sligo looked by far the more likely victors.
Points by Brian Egan and Mark Brehony put Kevin Walsh's team into a strong position, 0-8 to 1-2 and, despite a frantic rally by Galway near the death, which included a converted 45 by Sean Armstrong, there was going to be no Houdini act by Galway on this occasion.
It was a disappointing performance by Galway . Few players could have been happy with their overall contributions. The team worked hard defensively and Gary Sice, Conor Costello and Finian Hanley did some good things.
The real concern was at the other side of the field where the Galway forwards will have to toughen up and improve on their endeavour before they can expect wins away from home against the likes of Louth, Longford, Laois and Armagh in the National league.
Only three Galway players scored, and only two scored from play.
That is not good enough and, let's be honest, 1-04 is not a good enough tally to win many important games. This defeat will not have helped team morale. Nevertheless, they must dust themselves down over the coming 10 days and focus on getting a result in Pearse Stadium where they host Derry on Sunday week.
Galway have only three games at home in division two this year, and they need to win their home ones. A win over Derry would be a wonderful tonic to start the NFL and get the show back on the road.
Here's hoping.
Galway: J Egan, C Forde, F Hanley, D O'Neill, C Costello, G Sice, G O'Donnell, F O'Currain, N Coleman, J O'Brien, P Conroy, S Denvir, P O Griofa (0-2 ), S Armstrong (0-2 - 1 45 1 f ), D Cummins (1-0 ). Subs: M Meehan for Cummins, S Walsh for Denvir, M Martin for Conroy, M Boyle for O'Brien. Sligo: P Greene; N Ewing, J Martyn, B Kennedy; K Cawley, M Quinn, B Curran; S Gilmartin, A McIntyre; Brendan Egan, J Clarke, S McManus (0-1 ); M Breheny (0-4 ), K Sweeney (0-1 ), Brian Egan (0-3 ). Sub: F Quinn for Sweeney.
