Winning start for Sligo Minors

Back 18/02/2017 @ 18:40 | mainnews | Winning start for Sligo Minors

Winning start for Sligo

Sligo 0-15 Longford 0-9

Sligo got their Connacht Minor League campaign off to a good start when they accounted for the challenge of Longford at Markievicz Park Today, 0-15 to 0-9.

Despite the fact that David Cummins and his management team are currently without their St Attracta’s contingent due to their exploits in the Connacht Post Primary Championship, this was a decent display from Sligo in their first competitive fixture of 2017.

After labouring for much of the first half, the home side held a 0-8 to 0-7 half-time advantage but kicked on after the break to end as convincing winners.

Niall Colsh was particularly impressive for the home side and kicked four first half points for Sligo, but Longford held the initiative for much of the opening period.

Eamon Keogh and Aidan McGuire were to the fore for the Leinster side early on and they led for the majority of the first half before Sligo edged ahead with late scores from the influential Rory McHugh and Ryan Walsh.

The second period saw Sligo take control, though Longford were still in the game until corner back Paddy Duggan received his marching orders in the 50th minute for picking up two bookable offences.

With both sides emptying their benches, Sligo were 0-10 to 0-8 ahead midway through the second half by the time full forward Michéal Cahill was black-carded.

However, this setback had little impact as Sligo finished strong, with St Molaise Gaels club-mates Luke Towey and Dean Carroll both kicking 0-2 apiece in the closing stages to give Sligo a six-point win.

Sligo: A Davey; O Conlon, J Ellis, J McMunn; R McHugh (0-1), B Cox, D Carroll (0-2); E Lavin, J Carroll; R Anderson, L Towey (0-3), N Colsh (0-4, 2fs); R Walsh (0-2, 1f), M Cahill (0-1), K McKenna. Subs: E Lyons for McMunn (HT), J O’Hara (0-2) for J Carroll (40), C O’Dowd for Cahill (BC, 44), J Weir for Anderson (57), J Foley for Walsh (60)

Longford: J Fox; S Farrell (0-1), G Hughes, P Duggan; E Keogh (0-2), N Farrelly, D Corcoran; P Molloy, G Flynn; J Hagan, C McKeon (0-1), J McCormack; R O’Connell, A McGuire (0-4, 2fs), D Sheehan (0-1). Subs: D McCabe for Sheehan (38), M McCann for Corcoran (44), K Kenny for McCormack (55), E Smyth for Hughes (58), C McElligot for McKeon (60)

Referee: M McGirl (Leitrim)