Match Report Sligo v Armagh

Back 05/02/2017 @ 20:58 | mainnews | Match Report Sligo v Armagh

Allianz Football League

Division 3

Sligo      1-14

Armagh 2-11

At Markievicz Park

A late dramatic penalty from Adrian Marren ensured Sligo got a point in the opening round of the Allianz Football League as substitute Stephen Coen was fouled when his jersey was pulled by Mark Shields.

It looked like Kieran McGeeney’s side had done enough to win the match as they led 2-10 – 0-10 but Sligo came back with three points from Marren and point from Stephen Coen. Armagh thought they had done enough when Rafferty landed a free but Sligo would get a penalty which Marren scored.

The sides were level on three occasions during the opening half. After 18 minutes the best score of the period came when Keelan Cawley pointed after he combined well with his club mate Niall Murphy who returned the ball to Cawley and he pointed off his left foot. The key score of the opening half was when Ethan Rafferty scored a wonder goal as he scored off his foot as he finished to the back of the net.  Stefan Campbell followed up with a point to go four points in front but Sligo finished the half strong with points from Murphy, Marren and Mark Breheny to leave the score at the break 1-5 – 0-7.

Oisin O’Neill opened Armagh’s account at the start of the second half but Murphy responded well with a fine point. It looked like the game was over when Armagh got their second goal of the match on the 49 minute as Mark Shields joined the attack and Jamie Clarke out jumped Kevin McDonnell and he played the ball into Shields who finished past Devaney in the Sligo goals.

Sligo finished strong in the final quarter as Adrian McIntyre and Stephen Gilmartin started to dominate in the midfield sector while the introduction of Stephen Coen had an effect on Sligo getting back into the match. Armagh will feel they left the match behind them and maybe Sligo were lucky to get the penalty but Marren showed great composure to send Mathew McNeice the wrong way and get Sligo off the mark with an opening round point.

 

Sligo Aidan Devaney, Noel Gaughan, Kevin McDonnell, Eoin McHugh, Keelan Cawley(0-1), Neil Ewing, Gerard O’Kelly Lynch, Adrian McIntyre(0-1), Ross Donavan, Criostoir Davey, Mark Breheny(0-2,2fs), John Kelly, Paddy O’Connor, Adrian Marren(1-6,4fs), Niall Murphy(0-3)

Subs used : Stephen Gilmartin for Eoin McHugh, Stephen Coen for Mark Breheny, Brian Egan for Criostoir Davey, Luke Nichloson for Noel Gaughan(BC), Cathal Henry for Niall Murphy(BC)

Armagh Mathew McNeice, Mark Shields(1-0), Charlie Vernon, Aaron McKay, Shea Heffron, Niall Rowland, Ciaran Higgins(0-1),Stephen Sheridan, Ben Crealey, Anthony Duffy, Conor White, Shefan Campbell(0-4), Oisin O’Neill(0-1), Ethan Rafferty(1-5,4fs), Oisín Mac Íomhair Subs Used Paul Hughes for Ciaran Higgins, Ciaran O’Hanlon for Conor White, Jamie Clarke for Oisín Mac Íomhair, Niall Grimley for Ben Crealey, Gavin McPartland for Oisin O’Neill

Referee : Paddy Neilan Roscommon