Galway 1-13
Sligo 0-9

Galway footballers produced an impressive display of flowing football to herald the start of the Liam Sammon era when they proved far too strong for Connacht champions Sligo in a well-contested FBD League clash at Tuam Stadium.

RUNNING THE RULE . . . New Galway football manager Liam Sammon in pensive mood during Sunday's FBD League game against Sligo at Tuam Stadium. Photo: Declan Monaghan.

Sammon used the occasion to give a run to several fringe players and they were always on top against a Sligo side who faded for long periods.

New Sligo manager Tommy Jordan will be far from happy with the barren periods which saw Sligo fail to score for the opening 21 minutes and then go 23 minutes for a period in the second-half without raising a flag.

Kenneth Sweeney and Gerry McGowan added points shortly after the restart to level the game but Sligo did not manage another score until eight minutes from the end.

In between Galway took over with newcomer Mark Lydon from Moycullen impressing in midfield alongside Joe Bergin, while Darren Mullahy and Fiachra Breathnach also looked fired up.

Galway scored 1-5 without reply during Sligo's second-half barren spell, the goal coming from a Michael Meehan penalty after 68 minutes.

Galway had started well, too, chalking up four points without reply in the opening quarter, with wing-back Mullahy going forward to hit two superb points in addition to efforts from Niall Coleman and Lydon.

By the end of the game all six Sligo forwards had found the range but they did nit get their first score until Gerry McGowan fisted over a point after 21 minutes.

Another McGowan point and efforts from Mark Breheny and Sean Davey left it 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

The crowd of about 1,200 anticipated an even contest in this Connacht final repeat when Sligo drew level after the restart but midfield dominance through Bergin and Lydon and a solid display at the heart of the defence from Niall Coyne ensure it was Galway who prevailed.

Breathnach picked off three good points from play and Cormac Bane also found the range with regularity, while Meehan kicked the point of the match after a good delivery from Mullahy.

Sligo came with a late rally but it was not enough to salvage a match where both new managers would have been pleased with the initial showing from their new charges.

Galway: A Flaherty; M Comer, K Fitzgerald, D Burke; G Sice, N Coyne, D Mullahy (0-2); J Bergin, M Lydon (0-1); N Coleman (0-1), M Gottche, D Meehan; C Kenny, M Meehan (1-2, 1-0 pen), C Bane (0-4, three frees).
Subs: F Breathnach (0-3) for Gottche, 22 mins; D Blake for Sice, 33 mins;

Sligo: P Greene; B Kivlehan, N McGuire, R Donovan; P McGovern, C McGowan, J Davey; E O'Hara, M McNamara; B Curran (0-1), E Cawley (0-3, one free), S Davey (0-1); G McGowan (0-2), K Sweeney (0-1), M Breheny (0-1, free).
Subs: B Phillips for C McGowan, 50 mins; D McTiernan for Davey, 50 mins; E McHugh for Kivlehan, 56 mins; K Byrne for O'Hara, 58 mins.

Referee: V Neary (Mayo).

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