FBD LEAGUE Galway 1-7 IT Sligo 0-7:GALWAY GOT their FBD League campaign off to a winning start in dreadful conditions at Ballyhaunis last night when a second-half goal from debutant Shane Maughan proved decisive.

The students held a 0-6 to 0-3 advantage at the break with Kenneth Sweeney and Galway man Danny Cummins doing all the damage.

Indeed the lead could have been far greater had Cummins’s goalbound shot not been deflected over the bar by his Claregalway clubmate Brian O’Donoghue five minutes before the break.

But with the gale-force wind at their back after the resumption, Galway set about their task and last year’s minor star, Maughan, drew the Tribesmen level with a smart finish after a goalmouth scramble in the 32nd minute.

A free from Mark Leddy gave IT Sligo the lead again soon after before Fionntain Ó Curraoin and Tom Flynn put Galway on the road to victory with well-taken points in the difficult conditions.

And the win was secured by the returning Niall Coleman who fired over from long range six minutes from time to give Alan Mulholland the win in his first game in charge.

GALWAY: B O'Donoghue; K McGrath, K Kelly, D O'Neill; C Halloran (0-1), G Bradshaw, D O'Reilly; F O Curraoin (0-1), P Conroy (0-1); C Kenny, C Bane, M Boyle; A Murphy, JJ Greaney, S Maughan (1-2). Subs: T Flynn (0-1) for Boyle (45 mins); N Coleman (0-1) for Bane (45); G O'Donnell for Kenny (50).

IT SLIGO: A Faherty; D Maye, K Kane, J Kelly; D Drake, D Geraghty, R Donovan; M Leddy (0-1, a free), S Ryder (0-1); G Gaughan, P Garvey (0-1, a free), D Gallagher; D Cummins (0-1), K Sweeney (0-3), S Henry.

Referee: J Glavey(Mayo).