Resilient Sligo maintain surge on way to the NFL semi-final
Gritty home defeat of Roscommon earns Sligo top spot in Division 3A and a semi-final berth against Kildare
Lidl NFL Division 3A Round Three
Sligo
Roscommon
T0-13 0-11
HIS was another big statement of intent from the Sligo Ladies Footballers, a transformed team in the first year of Anthony Brennan’s management.
Experienced full-forward Katie Walsh supplied half a dozen scores, including the 11th, 12th and 13th points of Sligo’s merited 0-13 to 0-11 defeat of Roscommon last Sunday at Markievicz Park.
This result means Sligo top Division 3A of the Lidl-sponsored National Football League ahead of the Division
Three semi-finals next Sunday. Sligo’s reward is a showdown against Kildare, with Roscommon up against Laois. Although Sligo were already in the semi-finals irrespective of last Sunday’s outcome, having beaten Ulster counties Down and Fermanagh away in recent weeks, the home side played as if everything rested on them overcoming their Connacht rivals.
In a closely-fought encounter, Sligo exuded determination throughout – recovering after going down by a point in each half and also maintaining their composure during corner-back Aoife Morrisroe’s 10-minute spell in the sin bin.
The winners, who led 0-8 to 0-6 at half-time, had a defensive star in centre-back Lauren Boles, with Jacqui Mulligan and Sinead Regan also impressive in defence.
Sarah Reynolds did well at midfield, while inside forward Denise McGrath was on fire in the first-half when shooting three points from play. Leonie Gaughan, a new face in goal, added to her growing list of key saves – her stop to deny Roscommon’s Natalie McHugh in first-half stoppage time was another game-changing moment.
Sligo began without major forward Ciara Gorman, who scored 0-6 the previous Sunday against Fermanagh, with Ciara Gilroy, Emma Kevany and Rachel O’Brien coming into Anthony Brennan’s starting XV.
Before Katie Walsh’s wonder point opened Sligo’s account in the fourth minute there was a goal chance for Emma Kevany, whose effort was blocked.
Roscommon bagged the game’s two
NFL DIVISION 3A P W D Sligo 3 3 0 Roscommon 3 2 0 Down 3 1 0 Fermanagh 3 0 0
L 0 1 2 3
F 44 60 52 40
A 29 49 61 57
Diff +15 +11 -9 -17
Pts 9 6 3 0
eighth point (when a goal was on) put Sligo 0-8 to 0-5 ahead by the 25th minute.
Sligo ensured that Roscommon didn’t really profit from Aoife Morrisroe’s yellow card after 29 minutes, bar a Rebecca Finan pointed free that reduced the deficit to two points, but goalkeeper Leonie Gaughan was still called on to do her stuff before half-time.
Sligo were three points up again,
NO GOAL HERE TODAY: Sligo centre-back Lauren Boles makes a dramatic lastgasp interception to deny Roscommon’s Jennifer Higgins (number 14) a first-half goal in last Sunday’s Lidl NFL Division 3A fixture at Markievicz Park. 0-10 to 0-7, by the 38th minute. Sarah Reynolds was to the fore here – the midfielder kicked Sligo’s ninth point and then grafted for the 10th, a finish from Katie Walsh.
At this stage the winners had brought on Tara Walsh, one of three second-half substitutes used by the hosts, with Megan McCormack and Leah Kelly also getting minutes to make a difference.
Then came Sligo’s sloppiest phase as they conceded four points in a five-minute spell to go a point behind, 0-11 to 0-10.
Having managed to just about shut the door on another Roscommon goal chance, Sligo appeared to be beaten when Aisling Hanly got the final touch on a Mikaela McHugh shot. But Hanly was adjudged to have been in the square and the ‘goal’ was ruled out by Galway referee Shane Curley. Inspired by this let off, Sligo found their way again and a pointed free from Katie Walsh levelled matters, 0-11 apiece.
Roscommon missed a scoreable free, with Sligo then going close to retaking the lead, as the possibility of a stalemate grew.
Then Katie Walsh delivered two more points – a big score from play and a converted free after Sinead Regan was involved in an attacking move. Roscommon, their hopes of a win fading fast, were forced to go for goal from a stoppage time free – it was blocked and from the subsequent ‘45’ it was Katie Walsh who stood tall in Sligo’s goalmouth, clutching possession.
Best for Sligo: Lauren Boles
Sligo: Leonie Gaughan, Aoife Morrisroe, Michelle McNamara, Jacqui Mulligan, Rachel O’Brien, Lauren Boles (0-1), Sinead Regan, Nicola Brennan (c), Sarah Reynolds (0-1), Ciara Gilroy, Emma Kevany (0-2), Sinead Naughton, Sarah Cunney, Katie Walsh (0-6, 3f), Denise McGrath (0-3)
Subs used: Tara Walsh, Megan McCormack, Leah Kelly
Roscommon: Helen Cummins, Niamh Feeney, Sinead Kenny, Roisin Wynne, Saoire Wynne, Sarah McVeigh, Rachel Brady (0-1), Caroline Conway, Laura Fleming (0-1, 1f), Ellen Irwin, Rebecca Finan (0-4, 2f), Natalie McHugh, Aisling Hanly (0-5), Jennifer Higgins, Mikaela McHugh
Subs used: Joanne Cregg, Rachel Fitzmaurice, Megan Kelly, Alanna Hanmore, Sinead Glennon
Referee: Shane Curley (Galway)
BIG GAME IN STORE:
TEAM TALK: Sligo manager Anthony Brennan chats to the players.
RESULTS
Lidl National Football League Division 3A
Played on Sunday, May 23 ROUND ONE: Down 0-11, Sligo 3-4 Played on Sunday, May 30 ROUND TWO: Fermanagh 0-7, Sligo 2-12 Played on Sunday, June 6 ROUND THREE: Sligo 0-13, Roscommon 0-11
FIXTURES
Sunday, June 13
Lidl National Football League Division 3A
SEMI-FINAL: Sligo v Kildare (St Brigid’s GAA Club, Kiltoom, Athlone, 2pm)
DIVISION ONE – ROUND ONE: Tourlestrane v Drumcliffe-Rosses Point (Colm Gunning); St Molaise Gaels v Shamrock Gaels (Des Henry); CT
Gaels v Eoghan Rua (John Gilmartin) DIVISION TWO – ROUND ONE: Eastern Harps v St Nathy’s (Pat Normanly); St John’s v Owenmore Gaels (TJ Keaveney); Coolera-Strandhill v St Mary’s (Gus Chapman)
DIVISION THREE – ROUND ONE: St Michael’s v Ballisodare (John Griffin); St Farnan’s-St Patrick’s v Curry (Paul Healy); Geevagh v Calry-St Joseph’s (Gavin Cawley)
Friday, June 11
Note: All games start at 7pm unless otherwise stated. First named team has home advantage. The referee for each fixture is denoted in brackets.
Sligo LGFA Girls U-12 League GROUP ONE – ROUND ONE: Eoghan Rua v Tourlestrane (Maggie
Foy); Curry v St Nathy’s (Cathal Gavaghan); St Farnan’s-St Patrick’s v CT Gaels (Colm Gunning)
GROUP TWO – ROUND ONE: Ballisodare v St John’s ‘B’ (TJ Keaveney); Geevagh v Eastern
Harps (TBC)
GROUP THREE – ROUND ONE: Drumcliffe-Rosses Point v Calry-St Joseph’s (Ted Maloney); St Molaise Gaels v St Mary’s ‘A’ (Daire
INTER-COUNTY: Tourlestrane’s
Tara Walsh, in action against Roscommon on Sunday last.
Sunday, June 13
Tuesday, June 15
Note: First named team has home advantage.
Sligo LGFA Girls U-14 League
DIVISION 3A – ROUND ONE: CT Gaels v St Nathy’s (7pm)
DIVISION 3B – ROUND ONE: Eoghan Rua v Geevagh (7pm)