An end of the dream
SLIGO’S PROMOTION BID IS ENDED IN LOUTH:
BY FOLLOWING up a wonderfully productive first-half with an absurdly abysmal one, inconsistent Sligo managed to both inspire and deflate their fans on one hot afternoon in Ireland’s east.
Last Sunday’s 10-point loss to Louth at Haggardstown, Dundalk, means Tony McEntee’s men will sadly stay in the Allianz Football League’s basement tier for another campaign.
In a Division 4 North game of two distinct halves, Sligo showed the best of themselves by establishing a sixpoint lead, 1-5 to 0-2, after 18 minutes. Along with collective energy and purpose, Sligo’s status hinged on a brilliant individual goal from Mikey Gordon in the 12th minute. The Easkey player also marked his first start of this year’s Allianz Football League by landing a superb point – Sligo’s fifth. But Louth, even hampered by off target shooting when backed by the breeze (eight first-half wides), eventually found their groove in the first-half via three fine points from midfielder Ciaran Byrne, who could have goaled from one of these scores.
Sligo, for whom Sean Carrabine excelled, were still good value for their interval lead of three points, 1-9 to 0-9, but their world was turned upside down just 16 seconds after the restart when, from the throw-in, Louth powered through the centre.
Sam Mulroy’s rampaging run wasn’t checked and Louth’s top scorer goaled from a deflected shot – the ball coming off the foot of Paul Kilcoyne, who desperately tried to foil the goal attempt. Kilcoyne, as a deep-lying midfielder, had been one of Sligo’s most industrious performers in the first-half. Mulroy’s scrappy goal brought Louth level, 1-9 to 1-9, and within 60 seconds of Niall Murphy’s pointed free – which briefly restored Sligo’s lead – Louth found parity again.
Full-forward Conor Grimes pointed in the 40th minute to give the hosts the lead for the first time, 1-11 to 1-10, as Sligo only scored four more times over the next 33 minutes.
Louth’s second goal was a killer. From a hop ball in front of their goalmouth – following a Sligo mistake – Louth won possession and transferred the ball to danger man Sam Mulroy, who guided a low shot beyond Eamonn Kilgannon.
There was only one team in it now as all over the pitch Sligo’s game began to crumble. Passing accuracy dropped and decision-making got sloppy.
Red Óg Murphy was unusually off target with a curling effort for a point and a ball lofted in for Niall Murphy to gather (a pass he would normally gobble up) bounced over him.
Louth, who improved in the second-half for sure, were only too delighted to exploit Sligo’s increasingly long list of mistakes.
The winners’ third goal – Ciaran Keenan on target and Sam Mulroy involved in the move – only deepened Sligo’s already gaping wounds.
There was also the harsh possibility
of a fourth goal for Louth but, thankfully for the Connacht outfit, substitute Eoghan Duffy guided his shot wide.
Niall Murphy’s 55th minute black card was another disadvantage for Sligo, who played with 14 players for the last 10 minutes because of the dismissal of Eddie McGuinness. A 63rd minute yellow card when added to his first-half black card (which he received after 25 minutes) added up to a red.
Louth had two players sent to the sin bin in the first-half – Anthony Williams and Bevan Duffy.
At least Sligo have their first-half display to reflect on. They were decisive, composed and relentless in that opening period, everything they weren’t in the half that followed.
Captain Keelan Cawley’s point after 32 seconds – from Conor Griffin’s pass – signalled that Sligo intended to seize the day, a week on from that onepoint loss away to Antrim.
There were also quality points from Nathan Rooney, Niall Murphy, Mikey Gordon, Sean Carrabine and goalkeeper Eamonn Kilgannon during the first-half.
One of Carrabine’s points from play was a flick over Louth’s crossbar, a piece of improvised skill when he almost turned a ball from Patrick O’Connor (a point attempt that dropped short) into a goal.
Niall Murphy might have gone for goal with a vicious shot after Keelan Cawley and Cian Lally set up the chance in first-half stoppage time. It resulted in Sligo’s eighth point. Elsewhere, Sean Carrabine’s overall display was a positive for Sligo, Mikey Gordon’s goal was memorable, while Cian Breheny’s first outing of 2021 was another boost. Another substitute, Barry Gorman, belted over a good point – which proved Sligo’s final point and 15th score.
Even with promise of silverware on June 13 – if Wexford are beaten in the Division 4 Shield final – Sligo’s campaign now rests on them saving face by avoiding a potential shellacking at the hands of Mayo later this month.
Best for Sligo: Sean Carrabine
Louth: Craig Lynch, Dan Corcoran, Dermot Campbell, Donal McKenny, Emmet Carolan, Anthony Williams, Eoghan Callaghan (0-1), Bevan Duffy (0-3), Ciaran Byrne (0-3), Liam Jackson (0-1), Sam Mulroy (c) (2-3, 2f), Ciaran Downey (0-1), Ciaran Keenan (1-2), Conor Grimes (0-1), Ryan Burns
Subs used: Niall Sharkey, Sean Marry, Declan Byrne (0-3, 3f), Conal McKeever, Eoghan Duffy
Sligo: Eamonn Kilgannon (0-1, 1f), Ryan Feehily, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons, Keelan Cawley (c) (0-1), Darragh Cummins, Paul McNamara, Paddy O’Connor, Paul Kilcoyne, Conor Griffin, Cian Lally, Mikey Gordon (1-1), Nathan Rooney (0-1), Niall Murphy (0-4, 2f), Sean Carrabine (0-4, 2f) Subs used: Red Óg Murphy, Cian Breheny, Barry Gorman (0-1), Sean Power, Peter Naughton (0-1, 1f), Peter Laffey, Nathan Mullen
Subs not used: Alan Davey (gk), Conor McGovern, Gavin Gorman
Referee: Sean Laverty (Antrim)