Galway United 0-0 Sligo Rovers

A tight Terryland Park Connacht derby ended in stalemate as Galway United and Sligo Rovers defences reigned supreme in difficult conditions.

Sligo were better in the opening period but Galway created the better chances over the course of the 90 minutes, but Sligo defended with real determination throughout.

The second half was livened up by two sending offs with Sligo’s Danny Ventre (68) and Galway substitute Declan Edwards both seeing red.

Cian McBrien and Dave Cooke had gone close for Galway, but Sligo held on for a deserved point.

United’s blistering start to the season has surprised as much as Sligo Rovers’ failure to win in their first three matches.

And that was one of the reasons that so much interest surrounded how Galway would cope with a fired up Bit o'Red outfit.

With Jay O’Shea on Republic of Ireland Under-21 duty, Ian Foster changed his starting XI for the first time in 2009 as winger Shane Fitzgerald was afforded a start on the right flank.

Rovers manager Paul Cook was also without key players, Rafael Cretaro suspended, Romauld Boco on international duty with Benin, and of course the injured Mauro Almeida and Chris Butler.

In a bright and busy opening, Fitzgerald showed the watching RTÉ audience a glimpse of his pace when released by Cian McBrien’s precise pass.

Sligo’s smashing central defender Gavin Peers read the situation impressively, hacking clear despite being under pressure from Vinny Faherty.

A further Galway effort occurred in the 18th minute when Michael McGrath unleashed a venomous shot that drew a save from Richard Brush.

Midway through the half Sligo enjoyed a burst of pressure, but they failed to prise open a Galway defence that was anchored superbly by Shane Guthrie and Garry Breen.

The third quarter was tepid, but the game suddenly became interesting when Sligo were reduced to 10 men in the 68th minute following Danny Ventre's harsh sending-off for a challenge on Faherty.

McBrien then tried his luck with a 30 yard free-kick that wasn’t too far away and substitute Dave Cooke was denied by Brush as Galway pressed for a winner.

In stoppage time, Edwards saw red for a second caution following a foul on Richie Ryan and Sligo secured the draw their efforts deserved.

Galway United: Ryan; Conneely (Edwards, 71), Breen, Guthrie, Davoren; Fitzgerald (Synott, 53), McBrien, Kelly, McGrath (Cooke, 75), O’Brien; Faherty.

Sligo Rovers: Brush; Keane, Peers, Ventre, Holmes; Cash, O’Grady, Ryan, Morrisson (Torpey, 86); Doherty (McTiernan, 65), Parkhouse (Feeney, 65).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).