Sligo's minor footballers finally got some momentum and got a win in Markievicz Park on Friday that puts them right back into the chase for the knock out stages of the competition with one match remaining against Roscommon, the side that they defeated to win last year’s title.

Sligo’s prospects for an extended run in defence of the Connacht minor title they won last year looked anything but promising five minutes into this Round 4 game as there were already 4 points down to Leitrim, 0-1 to 1-2, having lost their two previous matches to Mayo and Galway.

However having settled into the game, the home side found their scoring boots and points from Dillon Walsh and Ronan Niland (two each) Cian Carty, Shea O’Neill, corner back Daniel King and James Foley had them just one point behind before Foley grabbed 1-1 inside the 23rd minute to put the home side into a lead for the first time.

Sligo’s two point half time lead, 1-11 to 2-6, was a fair reflection on an open and entertaining first half in which both sides had some excellent passages of play with Liam Chandler and Paul Honeyman getting the Leitrim goals with Honeyman, Josh Maye and midfielder Ben Guckian contributing the points.

The margin was eliminated in a hectic start to the second half with Jack Foley, Guckian and Honeyman pointing for the visitors with Sligo hitting one point in return to leave the sides level six minutes into the second half

Naoise McManus then put Leitrim back in front briefly before a quick-fire goal and point for Sligo by Carty and Rooney opened a gap for the home side.

Sligo’s James Foley and Guckian exchanged points to keep the three point margin in place with 15 minutes to go when Leitrim’s chances were a serious blow with a scarcely justified black card for substitute defender Aaron Gardner who was less than 30 seconds on the field.

dealt 

Sligo didn’t dwell on the merits of the decision and by the time the luckless Gardner re-joined the fray they had added 2-3 to the score board with goals from Rooney and Carty to lead 4-17 to 2-12 with five minutes remaining.

Leitrim finished off with three quick points as Sligo introduce subs Connor Flynn, Aaron Mullen, Peter Kerins and Gavin Lynch but James Foley had the final say with his sixth score of the day (1-5) to close out the contest and send Sligo into a winner takes all tie with Roscommon next week,.

SLIGO; Diarmuid Henry; Ronan O'Hehir, Oisín Conlon, Daniel King (0-1); Rian O'Callaghan, Robert O'Kelly-Lynch, Tommy Ross; Ryan Gillespie, Dillon Walsh (0-2); Tom Bailey, Ronan Niland (C) (0-2), Cian Carty (2-3); Eli Rooney (1-3, 1f), Shea O'Neill (0-2), James Foley (1-5).

Subs; Kevin Carnahan, Conor Flynn, Aaron Mullen, Peter Kerins, Gavin Lynch.

LEITRIM; Shaun Sheridan; Eoghan Moyles, Eoghan Duignan, Darragh Gardiner; James Gilheaney, Dara Greenan, Gerard Murtagh; Ben Guckian (0-3, 1f), Jack Foley (0-1); Liam Chandler (1-2), Paul Honeyman (1-6 2f), Tom Plunkett (0-1); Darren Cox, Josh Maye (0-1), Naoise McManus (0-1).

Subs; Eoghan Ridge, Aaron Gardiner, Harry Wilson, Eanna McNamara, Fionn Curley.

REFEREE; John Glavey (Mayo).