Sligo overcame a poor start to score a hard-earned win over the home side at Tuam Stadium yesterday. Galway quickly raced into a three-point lead, but Sligo settled and were level early in the second quarter as Ken Killeen, Kevin Giblin and Paul Taylor (three points) replied to Padraig Joyce and John Donnellan (two frees).

They were deadlocked, 0-5 each, at the interval, but although Padraig Joyce scored first for Galway, Sligo stormed into the lead with a Kevin Giblin goal and the crossbar denied Ken Killeen another.

A superb goal by substitute Derek Savage tied the game, but the visitors were playing with great determination and led 110 to 1-7 with less than three minutes remaining.

A spirited rally by Galway saw them cut the deficit to the minimum through a fine Derek Savage score from play and one from a free by John Donnellan, but the visitors held on in a nail-biting finish.

On Saturday, Galway had got their FBD campaign off to a successful start when they had four points to spare over Leitrim - 0-15 to 1-8 - at Dunmore.

SLIGO: A Carty; A McHugh, A Clancy, T Kilgannon; P Doohan, D Durkan, N McGuire; R Brennan, C O'Meara; K Killeen (0-2), K Giblin (0-1), D McGarty; T Brennan, P Taylor (0-5, 4 frees) , E O'Hara. Subs: N Carew for McHugh injured, F O'Flaherty for Giblin, S Davey for McGarty.

GALWAY: P Lally; T Meehan, G Fahey, R Fahey; D Meehan, T Joyce, E Daly; J Killeen, L O'Callarain; K Naughton, S Walsh, N Meehan; C Donnellan, P Joyce (0-3), J Donnellan (0-4, all frees). Subs: M Duggan for N Meehan, D Savage (1-2) for C Donnellan, M McNamara for Lally, R Silke for Daly, A Fitzpatrick for Naughton

Referee: G McGovern (Leitrim).