Sligo & Tipperary share the spoils

Back 03/04/2016 @ 21:51 | mainnews | Sligo & Tipperary share the spoils

Allianz League Division 3

Round 7

Sligo          0-18

Tipperary    3-9

@ Markievicz Park

By Gavin Cawley

Sligo retained their league status for 2017 following a nail-biting finish against Tipperary that will ensure both sides will remain in division 3 but Westmeath will join Limerick in division 4 next season. Sligo got off to a great start and were three points to one up after 14 minutes of play. Adrian Marren in his first start of the year got his name on the score sheet but a disastrous five minute spell saw Tipperary raise the green flag twice, firstly when Michael Quinlivan flicked the ball to the back of the Sligo net and five minutes later when Peter Acheson expertly converted a penalty to put his side 2-02 to 0-04 in front after 20 minute of play.  Sligo responded well and scored six unanswered points three coming from Niall Murphy and two from Adrian Marren to put themselves two points up approaching half- time but a Jason Longergan point left Tipperary back within a single point at the break.

The sides were soon level at the start of the second half when the Tipperary goalkeeper converted a 45. In a half which saw both sides cancel each other out for long periods; it was Sligo who went back in front on 42 minutes when Adrian Marren pointed but then the visitors registered three points without reply to go two points ahead. Sligo who, for long periods of the match, were by far the better side came back with three scores of their own putting them back in front by a point as substitute and captain Mark Breheny seemed to inspire his side with a converted free. The teams were level for the third time in the half but it seemed Sligo would take the spoils when they then scored four points on the bounce with two classy efforts from Kyle Cawley approaching the final minutes of the match. Tipperary, who always looked capable of scoring goals throughout the match again found the back of the net to give them a chance of getting something out of this game. Alan Moloney who was Tipperary’s best player throughout the match breached Sligo’s defence. When Conor Sweeney fired over a point the sides were level and that’s how the match would end with both teams sharing the spoils. 

Sligo Aidan Devaney, Daniel Maye, Kevin McDonnell, Charlie Harrison, Keelan Cawley, Adrian McIntyre, Gerard O'Kelly Lynch, Cian Breheny , Niall Murphy(0-7,4fs), Neil Ewing(0-1), Kyle Cawley(0-3) , Criostoir Davey, Adrian Marren(0-4), Eoin McHugh, Brian Egan(0-1)

 Subs Used : Noel Gaughan(0-1) for Criostoir Davey(40), Mark Breheny(0-1,1f) for Cian Breheny (46), Liam Henry for Daniel Maye (55)

Tipperary Evan Comerford (0-1,45), Kevin Fahey(0-01), Alan Campbell, Ciarán Mc Donald,Jimmy Feehan, Billy Hewitt, Shane Leahy, Alan Moloney(1-03), Martin Dunne, Peter Acheson(1-01), Jason Lonergan(0-01), Conor Sweeney(0-02), Michael Quinlivan(1-0),Philip Austin
Subs Used :George Hannigan for Michael Quinlivan (40), Brian Fox for Jason Lonergan(44), Kevin O’Hanlon for Martin Dunne (65).

Referee : Niall McKenna (Monaghan)