Battling United are second best

Date Published: 05-Apr-2011

SLIGO Rovers ended a four year run without a win in Terryland Park on Friday night thanks to a 30th minute strike from John Dillon, his third in two league games, to move the visitors up to second in the table.

It was a victory that was fully deserved, for while United showed plenty of heart and effort, they were second best for much of the night against a side expected to challenge for league honours this season, having captured both domestic cups in 2010.

It is only two years since Sligo Rovers finished one point above United in the bottom half of the table thanks to results on the last day of the season, but the fortunes of both clubs have diverged wildly since then.

Rovers have contested the last two FAI Cup finals, losing to Sporting Fingal in 2009 and beating Shamrock Rovers last season, and they boast two of the best local players who previously starred for United in Alan Keane and John Russell.

As for United, they only secured their top flight status last season with a relegation play-off win against Bray Wanderers, and only cobbled together a squad for this campaign at the 11th hour after a successful appeal against the decision not to award the club a licence to play in the league.

The difference in the strength of both squads was there for all to see on Friday night, with Sligo manager Paul Cook able to spring the likes of Joseph Ndo and Eoin Doyle from the bench, quality and experience United just don’t have.

For the full match report see page 23 of this week’s Sentinel

See also:

• Mervue in eight goal thriller – Page 26
• Referee ‘goal’ condemns Salthill – Page 26