NFL Div4 Rd 3: Sligo 1-10 v Wicklow 1-15

Back 17/02/2020 @ 12:52 | mainnews | NFL Div4 Rd 3: Sligo 1-10 v Wicklow 1-15

Sligo went east for the second weekend running but this time there was no points as well as being disappointed. 

Following a number of inspections the pitch was passed and despite all the rain the pitch was in good shape but there was a very strong breeze blowing directly from one goal into the dressing room goal. Wicklow had the elements in the first half and despite Cian Lally getting Sligo off to a good start with a well worked point Wicklow responded with a long ball in that deceived the defence and almost did same to Seanie  Furlong who caught at second attempt after which he cooly rounded Aidan Devaney. They extended the lead with two further points. Liam Gaughan responded against the breeze with two of his own well kicked points. In the 15th minute a good break out of the stand side of defence saw a crossfield ball reach Cian Lally who when fisted the ball into the unmarked Sean Carrabine who finished low to the net. By the 21st minute two frees had been added to the tally from Devaney and Paddy O'Connor to lead 1-5 to 1-3. 

For the last 15 of the half Wicklow took a strong hold around the middle and managed to score 7 on the trot to go in at the break in a far stronger position than it looked like earlier 1-10 v 1-5. 

Pat Hughes came in at half time and had the first score of the half in the third minute. Wicklow responded from play but a Gaughan free and a Devaney 45 narrowed the gap. Another Wicklow free responded to two points from Paddy O'Connor, one from play and another after a long kickout was fetched by Kilcoyne and a quick hand pass to O'Connor saw him tap it over. After 22 minutes there was 2 points in the game and it looked like Sligos day. However we did not score for the last 23 minutes (including additional time). David Quinn entered the fray and he found himself one on one with Jackson in the Wicklow goal. It was a tight angle but his effort curled around the outside of the far post and wide.  Stephen Coen received a black card in the 34th minute and Wicklow broke from defence to score 2 points in injury time. 

Sligo face Waterford in Markievicz Park on Saturday in the next round. 

Sligo - A Devaney (0-2, 1f, 1'45); JF Carr, E McGuinness, M Gordon; N Mullen, P McNamara, S Carrabine (1-0); P O’Connor (0-3, 2f), P Kilcoyne; G O’Kelly Lynch, D Cummins, N Ewing; L Gaughan (0-3, 1f), C Lally (0-1), S Coen. Subs: P Hughes (0-1) for D Cummins, R Murphy for N Mullen, K Cawley for N Ewing, D Quinn for C Lally

Wicklow - M Jackson (0-2f); A Maher, J Snell, J Hamilton; P O’Keane, D Keane, D Devereux; P O’Toole (0-1), D Healy (0-2); R Finn (0-1), M Kenny (0-2), D Hayden (0-1); S Furlong (1-3, 0-2f), C O’Brien (0-2, 1f), C Byrne. Subs: E Darcy (0-1) for C Byrne, P O’Rourke for A Maher, O Manning for J Hamilton, T Kearns for D Devereux, G Murphy for C O’Brien.