FIRST NFL VICTORY IN TWO YEARS FOR SLIGO LADIES:
Lidl NFL Division 3A Round One Down 0-11 Sligo 3-4
THIS has been a long time coming. Sligo’s two-point win away to Down on Sunday last in the opening round of the 2021 Lidl National Football League was the county’s first win in this competition since their defeat of Roscommon (an NFL Division Division Three semi-final) on April 20, 2019.
Although they only scored seven times at the Down venue, compared to their opponents’ 11 scores, Sligo crucially bagged three goals, with goals in the last 10 minutes from Ciara Gorman and substitute Tara Walsh helping to give new boss Anthony Brennan his first victory in his first competitive outing at the helm. Down were favourites for this Division 3A game at Downpatrick’s Teconnaught GAA Club – before last year’s National Football League was halted the Ulster county had won four of their five games, including a 3-15 to 3-7 defeat of Sligo at IT Sligo’s pitch. Sligo, of course, lost all five of their NFL games in 2020 and registered eight losses in all competitions.
The Nicola Brennan-captained Sligo, who made one change to their starting line-up, with Leonie Gaughan replacing goalkeeper Rachel Quigley, opened the scoring with a pointed free in the second minute from Katie Walsh.
The visitors, who moved the ball directly where possible, running determinedly at Down, were a point up at half-time, 1-3 to 0-5.
Sligo’s two other first-half points came from Ciara Gorman, who converted a 12th minute free and then landed a tricky free in stoppage time to edge Sligo back in front, 1-3 to 0-5. Down, despite wastefulness, still managed to land five points in the opening half – the first of these not coming until the 18th minute.
They were denied a goal by
Sligo netminder Leonie Gaughan’s point-blank save and flashed another goal shot just over.
The home side’s best spell saw them turn a one-point deficit into a two-point lead, 0-4 to 0-2, with the excellent Jessica Foy shooting these four points.
But Sligo responded with a well-taken 25th minute goal from Sinead Regan, who finished off good approach play by Ciara Gorman. The winners notched 2-1 in the second period. Their only point of the second-half came after 45 minutes when Sinead Regan scored, while Ciara Gorman had a 37th minute point ruled out.
Sligo were trailing by two points, 0-9 to 1-4, when substitute Tara Walsh’s 49th minute goal from closerange signalled a revival – Sinead Regan setting up the vital score. A superb phase of possession culminated in a goal move – substitutes Tara Walsh and Laura-Ann Laffey completing the chain of passes that led to Ciara Gorman netting with five minutes left.
This well-worked goal put Sligo four points up, 3-4 to 0-9, with an alert Leonie Gaughan – who tipped out a Down free that dropped dangerously short and almost under the crossbar – keeping Sligo’s lead intact.
Down tacked on two late points but the day belonged to Sligo. Having chalked up a win from their first game of 2021, Sligo will be anxious to build on this result when they play Fermanagh at Kinawley this Sunday (throw-in 2pm).
Sligo’s round two opponents lost by four points to Roscommon at Hyde Park last weekend. It finished 3-10 to 1-12 – the sides were level at half-time.
Meanwhile, Mayo Ladies Footballers, who are managed by the Enniscrone-based Michael Moyles, the former Sligo Minor Gaelic football boss, were one-point winners to Galway last Saturday, 2-15 to 2-14, in Castlebar.
Best for Sligo: Sinead Regan
Sligo (v Down): Leonie Gaughan, Aoife Morrisroe, Michelle McNamara, Jacqui Mulligan, Claire Dunne, Lauren Boles, Sinead Regan (1-1), Nicola Brennan (c), Sarah Reynolds, Aishling Molloy, Ciara Gorman (1-2, 1f), Sinead Naughton, Sarah Cunney, Katie Walsh (0-1, 1f), Denise McGrath
Subs used: Tara Walsh (1-0), Laura-Ann Laffey, Leah Kelly, Ciara Gilroy
Subs not used: Rachel Quigley, Leah Gannon, Rachel O’Brien, Megan Davey, Keighleigh Cawley, Sarah Brennan, Jade Lyons, Aoife Gilroy, Hannah Walsh, Megan McCormack, Emma Kevany
RESULTS
Played on Sunday, May 23
Lidl NFL Division 3A
ROUND ONE: Down 0-11, Sligo 3-4
FIXTURES
Sunday, May 30
Lidl NFL Division 3A
ROUND TWO: Fermanagh v Sligo (Kinawley, 2pm) (Gavin Finnegan)
Sunday, June 6
Lidl NFL Division 3A
ROUND THREE: Sligo v Roscommon (Markievicz Park, 2pm) (Shane Curley)