Learning curve for Sligo
Sligo are beaten by Roscommon as they are punished for poor first-half display in FBD Connacht League
FBD Connacht GAA
Senior Football League Sligo 0-15 Roscommon 1-21
FOR THOSE Sligo supporters who think that this display was the pits – and parts of the first-half were, indeed, horrible – don’t forget that Sligo lost to Roscommon in last year’s FBD Connacht GAA Senior Football League.
That losing margin in January of 2023 was seven points, also in the futuristic setting of the University of Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome, but it didn’t stop Sligo from going on to secure promotion from Division Four of the Allianz Football League and reach a Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship final.
Will last Friday’s 1-21 to 0-15 reversal provoke a similarly progressive season? Time will tell.
But one thing is for certain, a repeat of the first-half direness against Roscommon, an underwhelming period that saw sloppy Sligo trail by 12 points at half-time, 1-13 to 0-4, will be severely punished in the upcoming Allianz Football League when Sligo will seek to survive the mean streets of Division Three.
At least Sligo’s second-half was a huge improvement – the men in black outscored their opponents, 0-11 to 0-8, and looked a more forceful, shrewder outfit thanks to the introduction of several substitutes.
The likes of Peter Laffey, Conan Marren and Mikey Gordon made Sligo increasingly productive, with Jack Lavin also doing well, while another of the 11 replacements used, Alan McLoughlin, converted four frees.
The second-half arrival of Alan McLoughlin – the best player for first-time finalists St Molaise Gaels in last year’s Homeland Senior Football Championship – enhanced Sligo’s scoring threat, with the losers’ attack hithero overly reliant on the promising Lee Deignan, who finished with 0-4 as well.
Alan McLoughlin, a midfielder with St Molaise Gaels but deployed at corner-forward here, was previously in the Sligo senior panel – during Paul Taylor’s ill-fated tenure – but only got fleeting minutes.
Sligo, with more possession and fewer turnovers, took the game to Roscommon during the second period.
Seven of their 11 second-half scores came from play. The best of these points came from Lee Deignan, Alan McLoughlin, Peter Laffey, Mikey Gordon and David Quinn, who found the target twice.
Conan Marren completed a lovely move that involved Mikey Gordon, Lee Deignan and Oisin McCann (with Deignan keeping the move alive with a cheeky pass to McCann).
Eoghan Smith, another former U-20 player with a Connacht medal, got involved when introduced.
Sligo almost goaled in second-half stoppage time but substitute Brian Cox’s shot from a tight angle was saved by Colm Lavin.
Given that this was a largely experimental Sligo side, fans shouldn’t be too critical or too despondent after this result.
There were senior debuts for ex-U-20 players Luke Casserly, Dylan Walsh, Canice Mulligan, Daire O’Boyle and Lee Deignan and two others from the Sligo U-20 side that won Connacht honours two years ago, Joseph Keaney and Oisin Flynn, also started.
The second-half saw the mustached Oisin McCann earn his first senior appearance and he was lively, while goalkeeper Keelan Harte got vital minutes under his belt when he replaced established custodian Aidan Devaney in the 45th minute.
There were only five starters – Aidan Devaney, Evan Lyons, Paul McNamara, Cian Lally and Alan Reilly – from Sligo’s last competitive game, a GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Group Three game against Dublin on June 18 of 2023.
AFL Division One side Roscommon, with their St Brigid’s players, were in assessment mode as well although three of their proven starting forwards, Daire Cregg (1-3), Donie Smith (0-5) and Diarmuid Murtagh (0-5), were exceptional in the first-half.
The winners exploited the fact that Sligo were dismal and disjointed. Daire Cregg’s smart finish from closerange – following Enda Smith’s dangerous ball into Sligo’s goalmouth – produced the game’s only goal after 26 minutes.
Sligo were also without Evan Lyons for 10 minutes of the first-half – he was sin-binned in the 21st minute after dragging down Cathal Heneghan.
Aidan Devaney denied Senan Lambe’s goalbound effort after 11 minutes, with Cian Connolly becoming the sixth Roscommon forward to score by the 23rd minute.
Best for Sligo: Lee Deignan
Sligo: Aidan Devaney, Luke Casserly, Evan Lyons, Paul McNamara, Dylan Walsh,
Canice Mulligan, Mark Walsh, Patrick O’Connor (c), Joseph Keaney, Cian Lally, Alan Reilly (0-1, 1f), Keelan Cawley, Oisin Flynn, Daire O’Boyle (0-1, 1f), Lee Deignan (0-4, 1f, 1 ‘45’)
Subs used: Brian Cox for Luke Casserly, 32; Jack Lavin for Canice Mulligan, 32; Luke Towey for Mark Walsh, 32; Eoghan Smith for Oisin Flynn, 32; Peter Laffey (0-1) for Patrick O’Connor, 32; David Quinn (0-2) for Keelan Cawley, 32; Conan Marren (0-1) for Joseph Keaney, h-t; Oisin McCann for Paul McNamara, h-t; Mikey Gordon (0-1) for
Cian Lally, h-t; Alan McLoughlin (0-4, 3f) for Alan Reilly, h-t; Keelan Harte for Aidan Devaney, 45
Roscommon: Colm Lavin, Luke Glennon, Evan Flynn, Caelim Keogh, Niall Daly,
Colin Walsh, Declan Kenny, Senan Lambe, Enda Smith (0-1), Daire Cregg (1-3, 3f), Donie Smith (0-5, 2f), Cian Connolly
(0-1), Diarmuid Murtagh (0-5, 4f), Cathal Heneghan (0-2), Jack Duggan (0-2)
Subs used: Niall Higgins for Caelim Keogh, 33; Ronan Daly for Daire Cregg, 33; Conor Hussey for Colin Walsh, h-t; Conor Cox
(0-2, 2f) for Diarmuid Murtagh, 42; Eoin McCormack for Niall Daly, 45; David Murray for Evan Flynn, 47; Patrick Gavin for Luke Glennon, 50; Dylan Ruane for Donie Smith, 62
Referee: Shane Corcoran (Mayo)
4
The number of scores (0-4) that Sligo managed in the first-half of their game against Roscommon.