Blinkhorn hat-trick puts Sligo in seventh heaven

Sligo Rovers 7 Galway U 1:MATTHEW BLINKHORN scored a hat trick as table toppers Sligo Rovers swept to victory over battling Galway Utd at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.

Clever play by John Russell put Aaron Greene through for Sligo’s opening goal after 15 minutes and Galway were left with a mountain to climb after 23 minutes when Ronan Caldwell was sent off in what looked like the harsh awarding of a penalty to the home side.

John Dillon made no mistake from the spot.

Blinkhorn made it three, on 28 minutes after Russell struck the woodwork and Alan Keane scored Sligo’s fourth after 39 minutes. The home goal then had a let off three minutes before half time when a shot by Alan Murphy came back off the bar.

Blinkhorn made it five after 54 minutes but the gallant Tribesmen pulled a goal back on the hour mark when Oscar Sibanda beat Brendan Clarke with a clever chip.

Blinkhorn completed his hat-trick in the 89th minute before substitute Raffaele Cretaro completed the scoring on the stroke of time.

SLIGO ROVERS: Clarke, Peers (Kirby 57 mins), Keane, Davoren (Powell h-t), Foran, Russell, Ventre, Dillon (Cretaro 65 mins), Ndo, Greene, Blinkhorn.

GALWAY UTD: Egan, Sinnott, Gaughan (Dusi 18 mins), Browne, G Kelly, S Kelly, Caldwell, Gilmore, Murphy, Kim, Sibanda (Enwbe 81 mins).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).

LIMERICK finally get to play their Ford-sponsored FAI Cup quarter-final against reinstated Shelbourne this evening at Tolka Park, where the visitors won just a couple weeks ago. That defeat was part of a recent blip by the First Division leaders whomust now steady the ship in order to make absolutely sure of achieving their first priority, promotion.

Alan Mathews will be without long-term absentee David McGill for the cup tie, which could require a replay on Wednesday if it is drawn this evening. But the Dublin club should be at full strength otherwise as they look to get back to winning ways. Limerick are without Jeffrey Judge and Joe Gamble (both suspended) as well as Rory Gaffney and Sean Kelly (cup-tied).

In the league, St Patrick’s Athletic need to beat UCD at Belfield if they are to regain momentum in what now looks, with the league a very long shot indeed, to be a battle for a top-three finish.