LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISION: Sligo Rovers 2 Galway United 0: GALWAY UNITED boss Ian Foster was furious at a refereeing decision that left the Tribesmen with a mountain to climb after half an hour of this north west derby at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.
Dublin referee Declan Hanley awarded a penalty kick after Richie Ryan was impeded by Cian McBrien in what seemed a harsh decision. Alan Keane made no mistake to give Paul Cooke’s side a two-goal cushion.
“An awful decision by the referee and he doubled up by sending one of our players off in the second half,” said Foster.
John Russell was red-carded in the 87th minute for a second bookable offence.
Shaun Holmes put Sligo ahead in the sixth minute from an Eoin Morrison corner following a superb finger-tip save by the Galway goalkeeper that kept Morrison’s initial effort out. It was Holmes’ third goal in four games for Rovers.
“We threatened Sligo but just could not get a goal. Sligo are an excellent side and we have got to give them credit,” said Foster.
SLIGO ROVERS: Brush, Keane, Peers, Almeida, O'Grady, Boco, Ryan, Parkhouse (Cash, 57 mins), Cretaro (Feeney, 79 mins), Holmes, Morrison (Doherty, 65 mins).
GALWAY UNITED:Ryan, Conneely, Cooke, Guthrie, O'Shea, Russell, Faherty, O'Brien, McBrien (Molloy, 69 mins), Davoren.
Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).
