NHL 3B: Sligo 4-19 v Cavan 2-6

Back 19/02/2019 @ 09:49 | hurlingnews | NHL 3B: Sligo 4-19 v Cavan 2-6
At Kent Park on Sunday the county hurlers maintained their 100% record and with it guaranteed their place in the 3B league final in March. 
With a strong wind blowing into the town end it was important for whoever had it first to make full use of it. Sligo did this with aplomb.
Keith Raymond passed a late fitness test and started at full forward. Sligo were out of the blocks as soon as the whistle blew and 2 quick points from Gerard O'Kelly Lynch and Eoin Comerford who was unerring from frees all day got the ball rolling. A good ball in from Kieran Prior saw Raymond grab the sliotar, turn and drive to the net in the 4th minute. He had his second 3 minutes later from a penalty after Kevin O'Kennedy was sent somersautling through the air after a good passing move. A number of Eoin Comerford frees from a number of ranges and angles were scored before Keith had his hat trick in the 16th minute when he latched onto a rebound following a good save from Sheridan from Ronan Cox effort. Two points from play from Gerard O, the second from midfield and another from Raymond along with a number of Comerford frees left us with a substantial lead of 3-12 v 1-0, Hugh Briody striking to the roof of the net before the end of the half.
The debate at half time was would the visitors be able to pull back the lead. They did score 1-2 without reply in the first few minutes of the half but once their centre forward Conneelly saw red in the 46th minute it was as good as game over. Manager Daithí Hand was able to use the full compliment of his subs with Kevin Gilmartin latching on to a loose sliotar and first timing it to the bottom corner of the net in the 60th minute.

Scorers - Sligo: K Raymond (1-0 pen) 3-2; E Comerford (9f) 0-9; G O'Kelly-Lynch 0-4; K Gilmartin 1-0; K Prior 0-2; K O'Kennedy and J Starr 0-1 each. Cavan: H Briody 2-0; J Sheanon (3f) 0-4; C Carney 0-2.

Sligo - K Brennan; D Keown, J Weir, T Brennan; G O'Kelly-Lynch, L Reidy, K Banks; R Cox, B Shannon; G Cadden, K Prior, E Comerford; J Starr, K Raymond, K O'Kennedy. Subs: N Feehily for Keown (43), K Gilmartin  for Cadden (49), T O'Kelly-Lynch for Comerford (53), R Brennan for O'Kennedy (60), C Jordan for T Brennan (61).

Cavan - D Sheridan; M Moffett, M Hayes, D Brady; R O'Hagan, A Sheridan, C Kelly; P Sheridan, J Sheanon; D Carney, K Conneely, E Hill; C Carney, H Briody, D O'Reilly. Subs: N Neary for O'Hagan (h-t), E Shalvey for Hill (43), J Barry for O'Reilly (50), J Carney for Briody (58).