Mayo end Sligo’s
winning run
Sligo 1-7 Mayo 2-9
Sligo’s
unbeaten record in this year’s Connacht Minor League came to an end in
Markievicz Park last Saturday when they lost to Mayo by five points in round
four of the competition.
Having
beaten Longford, Roscommon and Leitrim already, Sligo came into the game in
good form but struggled against a Mayo side that started well and maintained
their advantage throughout.
With a
strong breeze blowing down the field, Mayo had the wind in the opening half and
scored five points in the first quarter to open up a significant advantage
before Sligo opened their account.
With Stephen
McGreal, Michael McGarry and Pat Lambert all on target early on for the
visitors, Sligo started to gain a foothold in the game and Barry Gorman kicked
a fine score after 18 minutes to put an end to Mayo’s dominance.
Red Og
Murphy, influential throughout for the home side, added Sligo’s second point on
25 minutes, but Mayo held the initiative at half time 0-8 to 0-2.
With the
wind at their backs in the second period, Sligo set about reducing the deficit
and halved Mayo’s advantage by the 42nd minute with Murphy (2) and
Gorman on target.
Mayo,
however, won a penalty after a foul on Mark Moran in the 43rd minute
and Michael McGarry converted from the spot to undo Sligo’s early second half
industry.
A second
goal from Mayo followed in the 53rd minute to extend Mayo’s lead to
2-8 to 0-6, and though Red Og Murphy’s goal from a quick free in the 56th
minute gave Sligo hope, Mayo ran out five-point winners.
Sligo:
Robbie Kelly; Oisin Conlon, Josh Ellis, Evan Lyons; James Weir, Brian Cox, Rory
McHugh; Evan Lavin, Barry Gorman (0-2); Colm Doddy, Niall Colsh, Michéal
Cahill; Red Óg Murphy (1-5, 3fs), Conal Ryan, Karl McKenna. Subs used: James
Duffy, James O’Hara, Roland Anderson, Jake Stephenson