Galway Utd 0 Sligo Rovers 0:CONTRASTING STARTS to the season ensured a dash of intrigue was attached to this Connacht derby at Terryland Park.

Heartened by the seven points that had been gathered in their first three contests, Galway were keen to deliver another positive result, but they were completely aware that Sligo Rovers are a competent outfit when the mood strikes.

There was plenty to admire in the enthusiastic manner both sides worked so diligently in the opening period despite the wretched conditions.

Galway were playing against a significant wind, but they probed for chances with Michael McGrath and Derek O’Brien going close. Sligo were doughty and determined too, and when the teams were reasonably satisfied going off deadlocked at the interval.

Little occurred after the restart until the 68th minute when the contest suddenly became lively again when Sligo’s Danny Ventre was dismissed for a challenge on Vinny Faherty.

Galway weren’t permitted to attain any real fluency by Sligo, and were only afforded the occasional glimpse of the visitors goal. Cian McBrien rifled a blistering 30 yard free-kick wide before Galway substitute Declan Edwards was harshly sent-off in stoppage-time for a second caution.

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

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

Referee: A Kelly (Cork).