Winning start for Sligo
Sligo 0-15 Longford 0-9
Sligo got
their Connacht Minor League campaign off to a good start when they accounted
for the challenge of Longford at Markievicz Park Today, 0-15 to 0-9.
Despite the
fact that David Cummins and his management team are currently without their St
Attracta’s contingent due to their exploits in the Connacht Post Primary
Championship, this was a decent display from Sligo in their first competitive
fixture of 2017.
After
labouring for much of the first half, the home side held a 0-8 to 0-7 half-time
advantage but kicked on after the break to end as convincing winners.
Niall Colsh
was particularly impressive for the home side and kicked four first half points
for Sligo, but Longford held the initiative for much of the opening period.
Eamon Keogh
and Aidan McGuire were to the fore for the Leinster side early on and they led
for the majority of the first half before Sligo edged ahead with late scores
from the influential Rory McHugh and Ryan Walsh.
The second
period saw Sligo take control, though Longford were still in the game until
corner back Paddy Duggan received his marching orders in the 50th
minute for picking up two bookable offences.
With both
sides emptying their benches, Sligo were 0-10 to 0-8 ahead midway through the
second half by the time full forward Michéal Cahill was black-carded.
However,
this setback had little impact as Sligo finished strong, with St Molaise Gaels
club-mates Luke Towey and Dean Carroll both kicking 0-2 apiece in the closing
stages to give Sligo a six-point win.
Sligo: A
Davey; O Conlon, J Ellis, J McMunn; R McHugh (0-1), B Cox, D Carroll (0-2); E
Lavin, J Carroll; R Anderson, L Towey (0-3), N Colsh (0-4, 2fs); R Walsh (0-2,
1f), M Cahill (0-1), K McKenna. Subs: E Lyons for McMunn (HT), J O’Hara (0-2)
for J Carroll (40), C O’Dowd for Cahill (BC, 44), J Weir for Anderson (57), J
Foley for Walsh (60)
Longford: J
Fox; S Farrell (0-1), G Hughes, P Duggan; E Keogh (0-2), N Farrelly, D
Corcoran; P Molloy, G Flynn; J Hagan, C McKeon (0-1), J McCormack; R O’Connell,
A McGuire (0-4, 2fs), D Sheehan (0-1). Subs: D McCabe for Sheehan (38), M
McCann for Corcoran (44), K Kenny for McCormack (55), E Smyth for Hughes (58),
C McElligot for McKeon (60)
Referee: M
McGirl (Leitrim)