After a brave fight back from a six point closing quarter deficit, Sligo hurlers went one score closer than a week previously but ultimately came up short again in their second outing in Div 2B of the 2022  Allianz Hurling on Sunday last in Markievicz Park.

The home side got the dream start when Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch had the ball in the net after just three minutes.

Donegal were quick to respond however and did so decisively with three points from full forward Ritchie Ryan, including two frees, and a point from Josh Cronolly McGhee before Ronan McDermott kicked in a goal from a goalmouth scramble in the mud to put the visitors 1-4 to 1-0 after just eight minutes.

Donegal were having the better of possession but Sligo kept in touch with points from play by Andy Kilcullen and Joe McHugh before Michael Munnelly dived bravely to flick a rebound to the net to put Sligo back in front 2-2 to 1-4.

Tipperary native Davin Flynn and Sligo wing back Gavin Connolly exchanged points before Donegal added three points from distance to move ahead.

Despite the heavy conditions underfoot, there were great scores taken on both sides. In the run in to half time O’Kelly-Lynch, Rory McHugh and Kevin Gilmartin (2) added four points for Sligo but they were outscored by Donegal’s seven point return in the same period including points from both Sean McVeigh and Conor O’Grady and a fine long range effort from midfielder Declan Coulter which sent them in to the break two points up, 1-12 to 2-7.

Sligo made one change at half time with Tony O’Kelly-Lynch replacing Gavin Connolly while Donegal manager Mickey McCann made three changes that saw Brian McIntyre, Jack O’Loughlin and Daire O’Maoilleidigh introduced,

The Donegal changes seemed to have the greater effect as they added three points in the opening five minutes of the second period

Sligo’s problems then deepened when midfielder Patrick Foley was shown a straight red card for interfering with the helmet of an opponent. Although Fionn Connolly pulled back a point, the visitors added three more as Sligo faced into the last quarter with a six point deficit.

It was however to be Sligo’s strongest period of the game. With the added energy of substitutes Tomas Cawley and Kieran Prior the rallied and got the home crowd behind them as they threw caution to the wind. The pressure began to tell as Donegal conceded a succession of frees, one of which led to the dismissal of Donegal wing back McVeigh for a second yellow card.

With three of those frees converted by Gerard O’Kelly Lynch and one from long range by Prior the clock ticked into added time with just two points the difference and the momentum with Sligo.

The pressure proved too much for Donegal midfielder Coulter – who got a straight red for a wild swing that upended Andy Kilcullen – with O’Kelly Lynch’s narrowing the gap to the minimum from the resultant free.    

The visitors secured the possession from the puck out however and worked the ball downfield to Davin Flynn on the Sligo ’45m line where he drew the foul and then converted the free with the last puck of the game.

It was a brave fightback from Sligo which ultimately fell short. As in  Derry a week previously, the Sligo side lacked for nothing in ability and heart but found again that the strength and speed of thought and movement at Div. 2 is a notch above what they had previously experienced.  

Sligo: M Davey, N Kilcullen, M Hannify, K O’Kennedy; G Connolly (0-1) R McHugh (0-1) F Connolly; F Cawley ©, P Foley; M Munnelly (1-0) G O’Kelly Lynch (1-64f) C Hannify; J McHugh (0-1) A Kilcullen (0-2) K Gilmartin (0-2). Subs used:T O’Kelly Lynch for G Connolly (h-time), T Cawley for K Gilmartin (52), K Prior (0-1f) for M Munnelly (60)

Donegal: Luke White; Gavin Browne, Stephen Gillespie, Padraig Doherty; Conor O’Grady (0-1) Michael Donaghue, Sean McVeigh(0-1), Declan Coulter (0-1), Danny Cullen; Gerard Gilmore(0-1) Ronan McDermott (1-3) ©, Bernard Lafferty; Josh Cronolly McGee, Ritchie Ryan (0-6,3f) Davin Flynn (0-6,2f) Subs used:Brian McIntyre for Doherty, Jack O’Loughlin for Donaghue, Dáire O’Maoileidight for Cronolly McGee (h-time), Conor Gartland for Lafferty (59)

Referee: Caymon Flynn (Westmeath)