Sligo’s U16 footballers continued the sequence of the county’s
success in the Fr Manning Cup, with an eleven-point victory over Wicklow in Longford
on Saturday which qualified them for the final in three weeks’ time.
This is the county’s fourth successive final following up
successes in 2018, 2019 and 2021 – there was no competition in 2020.
After a cautious start that yielded only three points in the
first twenty minutes – all from play by Aaron Lang, Eli Rooney and Eamonn O’Mahony
– the Yeats County exploded into action with a goal from captain Eoin Tuffy and
then a burst of 1-2 in less than two minutes that put then in control of the game
with five minutes to go to half time. St Molaise Gael’s Lang finished the
second goal with Michael Carroll and Conor Walsh adding the points.
Cian Carty finished the first half scoring with a pointed
free to give Sligo a five point, 2-6 to 0-7, half time lead.
A Niall Kenny point opened the second half scoring within two
minutes and the Sligo side continued in that vein with a further 11 points,
outscoring their opponents 0-12 to 1-3 in the second half to finish 1-18 to 1-10
winners with Carroll (4), Kenny (2), Rooney, Carty and centre half back Oran
Harte further adding to the score sheet.
Sligo will be very encouraged with the victory which saw all
but two points of the 2-18 total coming from play and where all six of Sligo’s
starting forwards and two midfielders scored from play.
Sligo: James
Cronin; Clyde Regan, Eamonn Keane, Jack Hayes; Liam Higgins, Oran Harte (0-1),
Marty Murray; Eoin Tuffy (1-0), Conor Walsh (0-1); Eamonn O’Mahony (0-1), Cian
Carty (0-3, 1f), Niall Kenny (0-3); Aaron Lang (1-1), Eli Rooney (0-3, 1f),
Michael Carroll (0-5).
Subs: Darragh Sweeney for Lang (42m), David Lyons for
Hayes (44m), Cian Gallagher for Murray (45m), Josh McHugh for O’Mahony (51m),
Dara Mostyn for Walsh (59m).