Connacht FBD League
Round 1
Galway 0-13
Sligo 0-10
At Quigabar
A Late rally from Kevin Walsh’s
Galway side ensured they got the better of Sligo on Sunday afternoon in
Quigabar as Sligo finished the quarter of the game with 14 men when Eoin McHugh
picked up second yellow card which put Sligo under pressure for the remainder
of the match.
Sligo had the wind in the opening
half and started well as longest serving Inter County Player Mark Breheny
opened Sligo’s account with a free. Sligo had three debutants in their side
with Patrick O’Connor, Luke Nicholson and John Kelly all making their first
starts in the Sligo jersey.
Patrick O’Connor was one player to
impress as he helped his side go into 4-1 lead as he kicked fine point from
distance as Sligo took control of the match. Galway had number of new players
on show and one of which Barry McHugh brought them back into the match
with free and this was followed by point
from wing back Sean Kelly to reduce the margin to single point. There was some
excitement during the opening quarter when Liam Devaney had to take over as
referee as Roscommon’s Paul Daly injured himself after ten minutes of the
opening half.
Brace from Adrian Marren ensured
Sligo went in at the break in front as they lead 6-4 after Barry McHugh had
added his third point of the match.
Just like the first half Sligo started well and added
two further points one from Breheny and other fine point from Marren as Sligo
went in front by four points. Fiontan O Curraoin on his
return to the Galway team started the comeback and point from Johnny Duane who
was captain of New York last season brought Tribesmen back into the match and
they given a big advantage for the remainder of the second half when McHugh
picked up second yellow card. Sligo went two in once again as O’Connor got
score from out on the right hand side of the pitch as looked like Sligo might
hold on for the win. David Wynne came on as substitute to reduce the margin but
his score was cancelled out by point from Breheny to ensure Sligo still had the
two point margin but final ten minutes Galway took control as they scored five
points on the spin Thomas Flynn firstly followed up McHugh point to leave sides
level and three further points one of which came from Eddie Hoare meant Galway
got off to winning start.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney, Eoin McHugh, Luke
Nicholson, Noel Gaughan, Keelan Cawley, Neil Ewing, James Hynes, Ross Donovan,
Adrian McIntyre, John Kelly, Mark Breheny (0-3, 3fs), Criostoir Davey, Patrick
O Connor (0-3),Adrian Marren(0-3) Kyle Cawley (0-1). Subs: Fintan Ruddy for Devaney, Darragh Cummins
for James Hynes, Stephen Gilmartin for John
Kelly, Sean Power for Criostoir Davey.
Galway: Rory Lavelle, Luke Burke, D Walsh, Johnny
Duane, Paul Varley, Gareth Bradshaw,Sean Kelly (0-1),Michael Day, Fiontan O
Curraoin (0-1), Johnny Heaney, Thomas Flynn(0-1),Peter Cooke, Paul Mannion, Barry
McHugh (0-7,4fs) Sean Armstrong. Subs: David
Wynne (0-2) for Michael Day, Eddie Hoare (0-1) for Paul Mannion.
Referee: Liam Devaney, Mayo