AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION: Galway Utd 0 Sligo Rovers 1:WHEN THESE two Connacht foes collide there is usually no shortage of passion and last night's Terryland Park encounter was typically frenetic as Sligo Rovers eked out a vital victory. John Dillon's smashing goal proved the decisive blow.

While Galway’s football in the opening quarter was honest they lacked the style of a particularly promising Sligo outfit who offered glimpses of their considerable potential.

That a Galway native John Russell was providing the midfield guile for Sligo irked the locals somewhat and there was an inevitability that the 25-year-old would be involved in the game’s critical moment in the first half.

The match had just ticked into its 30th minute when Russell drifted wide to the left to supply a cross for Dillon, who smashed a precise 14-yard shot past Galway custodian Greg Fleming.

Buoyed by the goal Sligo really should have added another before the break as Matthew Blinkhorn and Dillon came close, but Paul Cook’s charges still trotted in ahead at the interval.

Sligo bossed the third quarter too, manufacturing several opportunities as Russell and Alan Kirby were denied by Fleming while the post saved the locals from another Dillon goal.

Galway did battle with the necessary courage which will have given boss Seán Connor some comfort, but Sligo’s defence, marshalled superbly by Gavin Peers, were alert on the rare occasions the Tribesmen posed questions.

GALWAY UNITED:Fleming; Shaun Kelly, Sinnott, Maher, Walsh; Cash, Sean Kelly, Murphy (Feeney, 83 mins), Moore; Ryan; Yoffe (E Curran, 76 mins).

SLIGO ROVERS:Clarke; Keane, Peers, McGuinness, Davoren; Dillon (Ndo, 75 mins), Ryan, Russell, Greene; Kirby (Ventre, 65 mins), Blinkhorn (Doyle, 76 mins).

Referee:D Hancock (Dublin).