The Sligo U20 footballers made the same journey as their hurling counterparts less than 24 hours after the hurlers success in the Hyde for the Connacht U20 semi-final. It was rumoured last week that there was issues with Covid in both camps but the fixture went ahead on this sun drenched and very warm Wednesday evening with a breeze going into the cemetery end.

Sligo were against the elements in the first half and started in a very nervy and lethargic way. Not having a championship game the previous week unlike Roscommon was definitely an issue (as was seen in reverse the previous evening in the hurling) with a number of short balls into the keeper and mis directed handpasses along with not enough of support for the man with the ball.

Roscommon were up to the pitch of battle from the throw in and Dáire Cregg scored a good point from out under the terrace in the opening minute. This was followed by two from Ros full forward Ben O’Carroll, one from play and then full back Colin Walsh found himself in unknown territory opting to finally shot and score when no one was available to take it. Sligo were finding it hard to hold on to possession but on the 9^th minute Lee Deignan broke in from the terrace side and evaded two tackles before slotting over Sligo’s first score. By the water break Ros were 5-1 up.

Sligo lost centre back Jack Lavin soon after with Aaron Perry moving forward and Joseph Keaney moving into defence. James Fitzpatrick who was to have an influential game got his first fisted point which was followed by two Sligo scores with a Deignan free and a very good curling effort from Ciarán O’Reilly. The last 3 minutes of the half were to prove the most fatal as Roscommon scored 1-2, with the points coming from Adam McDermott and Cregg and then the final act of the half a goal from Fitzpatrick who was the first player to react to a ball coming off the top of the post to palm past Harte who had made an excellent one on one save earlier in the half. The score at the break was 1-8 v 0-3

Sligo were more up for it in the second half and were rewarded with points from Oisín Flynn(f) with Gavin Duffy and Jack Davitt scoring from play. However in the 37^th minute from the kickout of Duffys point, a long kickout was spectacularly fetched by Keith Doyle who managed to offload nearly before turning to the on rushing Ronan Garvin who travelled 40m before unleashing an unstoppable shot to the roof of the Sligo net. Though Sligo will be disappointed to have not laid a hand on him coming through the centre it was a brilliant goal on a night where 3 of the goals were of the highest quality.

Sligo then made changes bringing on Brian Callaghan and moving Matthew Clavin to the edge of the square. Davitt went close directly from the goal kickout which Deignan converted the 45 from the keepers save. Ros traded two scores with Sligo frees from Deignan and Flynn and in the 52^nd minute a long ball in was broken by Clavin which was picked up by Davitt who passed to Seán Carroll who drove a pile driver through the Roscommon defence to narrow the lead to 6. Aaron Perry scored from play, Davitt had a penalty shout turned down, Flynn scored another free after Clavin was dragged down and the lead was down to 4. A possible mark was broken up and on the counter attack Roscommon drove down the field to score a goal which Fitzpatrick added to seconds later from the resultant kickout. In fairness the Sligo lads continued to push and Joseph Keaney intercepted a pass near midfield and drove at the centre of the Roscommon defence and with two men hanging off him finished into the top corner of the net for the last play of the game.

Scorers:-

Sligo – Lee Deignan 0-5(4f), Seán Carroll, Joseph Keaney 1-0 each, Oisín Flynn 0-3(3f), Ciarán O’Reilly, Jack Davitt, Gavin Duffy, Aaron Perry 0-1 each

Sligo: Keelan Harte, Mark Walsh, Tristan Gilligan, Ciarán McKeon, Seán Carroll, Jack Lavin(capt), Ciarán O’Reilly, Matthew Clavin, Feidhlim O’Donnell, Connor Finn, Lee Deignan, Joseph Keaney, Gavin Duffy, Oisín Flynn, Jack Davitt

Subs: Aaron Perry for Lavin, Brian Callaghan for O’Donnell, Jim Davis for Duffy, Luke Casserly for Deignan