U20s in need of Leitrim win
Local derby in Markievicz
WITH the goal chances Sligo created in their Rd 3 Connacht U20 clash with Galway in Tuam Stadium, it was a game Sligo manager Paul Henry admitted they probably didn’t deserve to lose. The Curry man said: “I suppose we had plenty of chances and we didn’t take them. If you don’t take them, you don’t win and unfortunately that’s what happened.
“Look, fair play to Galway, when the chances came they took them.
“We have to knuckle down now, we have two hard weeks ahead of us to try and get two wins against Leitrim and Mayo and if we don’t we won’t be in the Connacht championship.”
With Leitrim beating Mayo, the entire competition has opened up.
“We are just after talking to some of the lads there in the dressing room and we said this is championship football. There’s no backdoors now, there’s no hiding, you either go out and win or you end up getting knocked out of the competition.
“Personally, I think that’s the way championship football should always be but now we are going to see what we are made of,” the Connacht winning manager said.
“The concerning point was when Galway did get the goal, we went a long period of time without scoring after that and they ended up tacking on a good few scores and put us under awful pressure.
“So that’s a concern that we have to deal with and it’s something I suppose that happened against Roscommon last week. It is definitely something we will work on and hopefully improve for next week.”
The second Galway goal gave the Tribesmen a cushion but Henry said he was happy with how the Sligo lads responded.
“I can’t fault the lads, they kept fighting to the very end and kept going at it and look on another day, some of those chances would have gone in for us and it could be a different result, but it is what it is, we are coming out of here with a loss and we have a lot of work to do in the next two weeks.”
The Leitrim game this evening in Markievicz Park is a local derby and one expects a tight game.
“A great result for Leitrim there this evening against Mayo so we know they are going to be on a high coming towards us. I suppose you could look on it that we are on a bit of a low so we have to prove a point now again and try and build ourselves up and be ready for that.
“Fair play to Leitrim and it has opened up the competition for everyone again, although we are very disappointed this evening.
“We just have to get on with it and be better next week,” Henry added.
On Wednesday in Tuam, Galway got back to winning ways as a strong second quarter, in which the home side scored 1-7, proved crucial at Tuam Stadium.
Sligo started the brighter of the teams, leading 0-4 to 0-2 after nine minutes with Conor Flynn and Ross Doherty among the scores.
Galway, who were beaten by Mayo last time out, drew level on 14 minutes after Matthew Thompson and Ciarán Mulhern were on target for Derek Savage’s men.
Sligo took control of the match a minute later when Conor Walsh finished to the net after Flynn had flicked the ball on.
The response from Galway was outstanding as they replied with 1-5 without reply – the goal coming from Conor Heneghan. The sides then traded two points each as Galway held a five-point lead at the break, 1-11- 1-6.
The Tribesmen made the perfect start to the second half as they added a further 1-1 without reply, with Colm Costello finding the net.
Sligo got the response they needed with 1-2 without reply, the goal from Ronan Niland, reducing the margin to four points with 15 minutes to play.
But Galway never really looked in danger as they ran out comfortable four-point winners.
It was the Tribe’s second win of the championship while current Connacht champions Sligo have to win their next games with Leitrim and Mayo to remain in contention.
Tonight’s game in Markieivicz Park with Leitrim has a throw-in time of 6:30pm.
SCORERS – Galway: M Thompson 0-6; C Costello 1-2; C Heneghan 1-1; C Mulhern, C Murphy, R Colleran 0-2 each; S McGlinchey 0-1. Sligo: C Walsh, R Niland 1-2; E Rooney 0-3; R Doherty 0-2; C Sheridan, C Flynn, M McDaniel 0-1 each
GALWAY: E McGrath; S Canavan, B Noone, D Costello; M Mannion, R Coen, J Folan; S McGlinchey, J Lonergan; M Thompson, C Heneghan, C Costello; R Colleran, C Murphy, C Mulhern. Subs: L O’Connor for M Mannion (42); P Godwin for R Coen (51); J Mullen for C Murphy (55); D Walsh for S McGlinchey (58); C Greaney for R Colleran (60).
SLIGO: E Carden; R Chambers, C Johnston, T Ross; R O’Callaghan, D McLoughlin, R Sloyan; C Sheridan, R Doherty (C); C Walsh, R Niland, J Donlon; E Rooney, L Marren, C Flynn. Subs: M McDaniel for R Niland (39); D Walsh for C Flynn (40); R O’Kelly Lynch for L Marren (41); E Barrett for R Sloyan (45); D O’Callaghan for E Rooney (55).
REF: John Glavey (Mayo).