Reece Hutchinson strikes late as Sligo pile misery on Galway

RTÉ News​

16-05-2025

Reece Hutchinson was the Sligo Rovers hero as the league's bottom side Sligo Rovers picked up just a third win of the season, beating Galway at Eamonn Deacy Park.
It was a fourth consecutive defeat for John Caulfield's men, and just a second clean sheet of the season for Sligo Rovers.
Hutchinson's second goal of the season earned the Bit O'Red a massive three points, although they remain bottom on goal difference.
Both sides have struggled for form of late, with Galway losing three on the bounce coming into Friday's tie, while Sligo had three defeats and two draws in their last five.
Galway dropped to eighth place in the table last weekend, but do have a comfortable gap, eight points ahead of Cork City in ninth coming into this game.
Down bodies due to injuries, John Caulfield made three changes from the side that lost to Waterford; Bobby Burns, Ed McCarthy and Greg Cunningham all returning to the team with Regan Donelon, Cillian Tollett and Conor McCormack all dropping out.
Sligo boss John Russell also made three changes from last Saturday's defeat to Bohemians.
John Mahon returned from suspension, while Jad Hakiki and Matty Wolfe returned to the starting 11 with Ronan Manning missing through injury, and Harvey Lintott and Francely Lomboto dropping to the bench.
In what was a very even first-half, neither side really took a foothold of the game.
Rob Slevin was on hand to divert Jad Hakiki's ball away from the goal on four minutes, while John Mahon blocked down a volley from April's player of the month Moses Dyer.
Sam Sargeant in the Sligo goals was tested a number of times early on, but dealt well with everything the home side threw his way.
A goal-line clearance from Gareth McElroy kept Jeannot Esua's drive out, after Sargeant had got his fingertips to it.
Bobby Burns' drive was blocked down by Leaving Cert student Conor Reynolds, with Cian Kavanagh's overhead kick on 37 minutes forcing a save from the experienced Brendan Clarke in the Galway goals.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead on 67 minutes when Hickey cleverly got around Reece Hutchinson inside the box, the American aiming for the far corner.
Sligo had the woodwork to thank, as Hickey's effort came off the far post and bounced back into the middle with the visitors just about dealing with it.
Two minutes later, the league's bottom side went ahead.
Former Barnsley midfielder Matty Wolfe drove forward and picked out the run of Hutchinson on the left.
The left-back cut inside and his shot took a deflection to beat Clarke as John Russell's side went ahead.
Galway native Francely Lomboto worked got on the end of a good ball over the top after his introduction, but the former Galway United man was forced wide and couldn't direct his shot on target.
John Caulfield's side were applying serious pressure in additional time at the end of the 90, but Sargeant was not troubled, in truth.
Sligo stay bottom on goal difference, and Galway remain in eighth place.
Galway United: Brendan Clarke; Rob Slevin, Killian Brouder, Greg Cunningham; Jeannot Esua, Cian Byrne, Bobby Burns (Colm Horgan, 57 [Brian Cunningham, 92]), Ed McCarthy (Stephen Walsh, 81); Patrick Hickey, David Hurley (Sean Kerrigan, 92); Moses Dyer.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Conor Reynolds (Harvey Lintott, 74), John Mahon, Gareth McElroy, Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Matty Wolfe (Francely Lomboto, 82); Owen Elding, Jad Hakiki, Will Fitzgerald; Cian Kavanagh.