Eoin Doyle continued his rich vein of scoring form by claiming the winner for Sligo Rovers against Galway United on Saturday night at The Showgrounds.

Doyle scooped the ball into the top corner from close range shortly after the hour-mark, as Rovers maintained their unbeaten start to the season.

An entertaining and competitive first half saw both sides create chances, with Galway captain Barry Ryan twice having to come quickly off his line to deny Padraig Amond early scoring opportunities.

Doyle could have got his goal earlier, when he got in behind the Galway defence on 33 minutes, but he elected to try and find Amond instead of taking on the shot himself, and an offside flag meant the chance was lost.

At the other end, Galway’s young strikers Jason Molloy and Karl Sheppard worked hard, but it was wingers Derek O’Brien and Bobby Ryan that went closest to scoring, but both of their efforts were narrowly off target.

Galway started the second half brightly, but failed to test Sligo keeper Richard Brush, before Rovers introduced John Dillon and Conor O’Grady before the hour-mark. It had the desired effect as both players were involved in the move that led to Matthew Blinkhorn heading Dillon’s delivery back across goal for Doyle to claim what proved to be the game’s only goal.

Sligo: Brush, Ventre, Peers, Keane, Davoren, McCabe (Dillon 53), Doninger (Almeida 81), Ryan (O’Grady 58), Doyle, Blinkhorn, Amond.

Subs not used: Feeney, Kelly.

Galway: Ryan, Conneely, Heary, MacKenzie, Meynell, Ryan, Foley (Curran 73), O’Donnell, O’Brien, Molloy (Creaney 69), Sheppard.

Subs not used: King, McBrien, Sinnott.

Ref: D Hanney.