Sligo are back in the Connacht minor final only 7 months
after they last competed in it but will be hoping this time to go a step
further and secure the title. On Friday evening they produced a very good
second half performance to justifiably win in a very enjoyable game. Sligo
started in great form and had four points on the scoreboard before Leitrim got
a score.
It started with a Luke Marren close in free after Joshua
Flynn was fouled. This was followed by an excellent team score that started all
the way from keeper Kyle Davey and finished with Ronan Niland scoring. Niland
was injured a few minutes later and will be a doubt for the final but from the
subsequent free Marren played a one two with Stephen Rogan and floated it over.
Mark McDaniel got on the scoresheet after taking the ball from corner back Ross
Chambers broke from defence. Leitrim got a well worked goal which was finished
into the top right corner by Jack Casey. Ben Guckian followed this up with a
pointed free.
At the water break Sligo went two up with points from play
from sub Stephen Donoghue and wing back James Donlon. Leitrim midfielder Barry
McNulty who was one of the Leitrim best players on the night scored a good long
range point. Marren responded with a point from a free and then Brian Duffy
scored from play after a good run from Dylan McLoughlin. Centre back Con Doyle
snuck inside the Sligo defence to score a point and this was followed by 3 more
Leitrim points where they took the lead. Points from Brian McKenna and two from
Ciaran Reynolds, one that could have possibly been a green flag. Marren was
fouled and scored before the half time whistle leaving the scores tied at 1-6 v
0-9.
Sligo like the first half got into their groove early with
early scored from distance by Duffy and a Marren score from play after good
play by Ronan O’Hehir. Goalscorer Casey scored a free for Leitrim but this was
quickly followed by a Stephen Rogan curling effort from out on the wing. The
decisive moment of the half came when midfielder Ross Doherty was at the end of
a quick handpassing move involving Marren, Duffy and Flynn to drive the ball
low across the keeper from 13m. Leitrim responded with a point but in an excellent
five minutes from Doherty he came in late again, passing out Dillon Walsh
before receiving the ball from him and this time drove into the top left corner
of the Leitrim net.
Marren after the water break added two quick points from
play with Paul Moran adding one for Leitrim. In the 54th minute
Leitrim got back into the game when Reynolds took hold of the ball after a brilliant
save by Davey and put the ball pass the prostrate Davey to narrow the gap to 6.
Davey did drive over a 45 with plenty to spare before the end and sub Conor
McMorrow brought the scoring to an end and Sligo were back into the final.
There is plenty for Sligo to work on plus the added worries
of the injured Niland and Ross Chambers but it is great for the the county to
reach the final for the second year running.
Scorers
Sligo – Luke Marren 0-9 (4f), Ross Doherty 2-0, Brian Duffy
0-2, Ronan Niland, Mark McDaniel, James Donlon, Stephen Donoghue, Stephen
Rogan, Kyle Davey(1x45), Conor McMorrow 0-1 each.
Leitrim – Ciaran Reynolds 1-2 (1f), Jack Casey 1-1(1f), Ben
Guckian 0-1(1f), Barry McNulty, Con Doyle, Brian McKenna, Jake Tobin, Paul
Moran 0-1 each
Sligo – Kyle Davey, Ronan O’Hehir, Conor Johnston, Ross
Chambers, Kyle Mullen, Dylan McLoughlin, James Donlon, Ross Doherty, Conor
Sheridan, Mark McDaniel, Ronan Niland, Stephen Rogan, Luke Marren, Joshua
Flynn, Brian Duffy
Subs – Stephen Donoghue for Niland, Dillon Walsh for Mullen,
Conor McMorrow for Rogan, Robert O’Kelly Lynch for Chambers