Allianz NHL Division 3B
Sligo 2-14
Fermanagh 1-16
Substitute Ruairi Brennan settled a tight
contest at Kent Park with an injury-time point, as Sligo got off to a winning
start against the Erne men.
Brennan struck the decisive score seconds
after Fermanagh thought they had earned a draw with a brilliant goal from
Declan McGarry.
Sligo seemed to have had done enough prior
to that, with a goal from Joe Starr and points from debutant Kevin O’Kennedy,
Tony O’Kelly-Lynch and Brennan edging them four clear late on.
But midfielder Rian Ó Buaigh kept the
visitors in touch with a personal tally of eight points, and McGarry’s strike
ensured a dramatic finish.
The hosts led by a point at the break, 1-4
to 0-6, with Gary Cadden’s goal separating the sides - his effort deceiving
goalkeeper Mark Curry, who was under pressure from O’Kennedy.
Keith Raymond, captain Eoin Comerford and
O’Kelly-Lynch were all on the mark in the opening period for the Yeats men,
though Comerford was off-target from a penalty awarded after Brian Shannon was
fouled.
John Duffy hit two points for Fermanagh,
with Barry McPhilips, Caolan Duffy and Ó Buaigh also pointing from play.
The Ulster county started the second half
well, but Starr’s goal put Sligo back on course.
SLIGO: Kevan Brennan; Tommy Kelly, James
Weir, Cathal Jordan; Mark Comerford, Liam Reidy, Kevin Banks; Keith Raymond
(0-1), Gary Cadden (1-1); Eoin Comerford (Captain 0-1), Kevin O’Kennedy (0-2),
Brian Shannon; Tony O’Kelly-Lynch (0-2), David Collery, Joe Starr (1-2).
Subs: Kieran Prior (0-1) for Kelly (ht),
Ruairi Brennan (0-4) for E Comerford (ht), Tom Brennan for Jordan (48), Niall
McDermott for Collery (52), Luke Comerford, Donall Hanley, Tommy O’Callaghan,
Danny Keown, Tom Armstrong, Niall Campbell, Shane Brenan.