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Article Date: 27/01/2010
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STUDENT UNREST
The FBD league can be surprising and Sunday was no exception when GMIT could and should have caused an upset by beating the Sligo senior team. It was with great relief that the Sligo contingent witnessed Colm McGee converting a long distance free to leave the sides level with the last kick of the game well into injury time.
A loss to the students would have been embarrassing but the game itself was very useful in assessing some of the new kids on the block adorned with the black and white strip.
Sligo went in at half time 0-6 to 0-3 in front and seemed to be in control although the College boys had squandered a lot of chances despite having possession for long periods of the half.Ciaran Finan opened Sligo’s account with a fine point from play and in general had a very good first half giving a display of intelligent play as well as a high work rate. Another newcomer Pádraig Clarke also impressed when he got into his stride and had three fine points to his credit when proceedings were brought to a close. A magnificent point ten minutes into the second half off his left boot is hopefully a sign of things to come.
The pairing of Eugene Mullen and Tom Collery in mid field worked well with Mullen’s fielding being a talking point of this game.
Eamon O’Hara was introduced after the break and was soon on the score sheet with a point from play. His skill brought more shape to the team and when he scored from play with ten minutes gone in the half Sligo looked very assured indeed. The Tourlestrane man exited the game at this stage however, because of an injury presumably, although he cantered off the field with physio in tow. It was then that the Yeats men lost their shape or GMIT found theirs.
Jason Farrell had proven himself in the first quarter with a one on one save but a ball that seemed to be heading across his crossbar instead hit the woodwork and was deflected into the net in a freakish action.
These things happen and there was nobody panicking in the Yeats men’s corner just yet but Sligo seemed to lose momentum after this. Paul Conroy claimed the fortuitous goal and he deserved all the plaudits as he was having a great game otherwise.
GMIT clocked up points with apparent ease at this stage and overtook the Yeats County with the clock filling up. Sligo had a couple of reasonable chances to level and even pull ahead but a nervousness had taken grip of the team and nothing was going right for them. McGee had a far more difficult shot than many that were missed previously but he was sure and accurate under pressure given the slowness of the referees watch.
Ironically this game was less disappointing than the loss against Galway as it put on display some of the new talent coming through and they certainly acquitted themselves well. There is much to look forward to.
LANDSLIDE IN BALLYFARNON
St.Attracta’s will have learnt very little from their recent demolition of Roscommon CBS except perhaps that they are in the wrong grade. The Tubbercurry College fielded a very physically strong team and will be well worth a look at against stronger opponents. Management will no doubt concentrate on the point tally of 15 scored by their young charges and forget the five goals that were an aberration. Some great displays of point taking were on show and a few bad misses too! They could afford such luxuries on the day.
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