Sligo Minors continue winning run

Sligo 2-11 Leitrim 1-11

Sligo’s good form in the Connacht Minor League continued this evening when they accounted for Leitrim by three points, 2-11 to 1-11 at Scarden.

The base for this success – their third successive win in the competition – was Sligo’s second half performance, where the winners turned a six-point deficit into a six-point lead before a Leitrim penalty at the death reduced the winning margin to three points.

Red Óg Murphy and Niall Colsh were the two most significant scoring contributors for David Cummins’ side with 0-8 and 2-0 respectively, but Sligo’s first half performance was disappointing.

0-9 to 0-3 behind at the break, it was Leitrim who hit a purple patch in the second quarter when they reeled off six unanswered points after the sides had been level at 0-3 apiece after 18 minutes – Red Óg Murphy supplied Sligo’s three first half points.

After the restart Sligo began to gain a foothold, and Niall Colsh’s 35^th minute goal proved to be the catalyst for the home side’s second half revival.

Sligo followed with points from Murphy (2), Rory McHugh, Barry Gorman and Conal Ryan before Colsh added a second goal in the 47^th minute to give his side the lead, 2-8 to 0-11.

Thereafter they extended their advantage through three more Murphy points, and though Leitrim netted from the penalty spot in the closing moments, Sligo were not to be denied.

The sides will meet later in the year in the Connacht Championship semi-final, but Sligo’s next league assignment is the visit of Mayo to Markievicz Park next Saturday afternoon at 4pm.

Sligo: D Lyons; O Conlon, O Grehan, J Ellis; J Duffy, B Cox, L Towey; E Lavin, B Gorman (0-1); R Anderson, N Colsh (2-0), J Carroll; R Og Murphy (0-8, 4fs), C Ryan (0-1), K McKenna. Subs used: R McHugh (0-1), J Stephenson, E Lyons, C O’Dowd.