Mannion enjoys the rollercoaster at Healy Park
IT TOOK Sligo the first-half to figure out how to hurl again.
Mojo restored following the half-time break, they let their skills do their talking in the second-half against Tyrone, outscoring the hosts by seven points. The experience of a team side going from bust to boom is part and parcel of being a manager. Sligo Senior hurling team boss Padraig Mannion certainly enjoyed last Saturday afternoon’s entertainment, the result of which delivered a second successive Allianz Hurling League promotion under his watch. “It is brilliant, an unbelievable feeling. In the first-half we couldn’t catch a break, we couldn’t catch the ball. But since the second water break the lads were just unbelievable,” said the Ballygar native. “Kevin Banks came into the game, as did Joe McHugh and Finnian Cawley. At half-time we asked the leaders in the team to stand up and they stood up, immensely.”
He reckoned Sligo’s nervy firsthalf was down to fear – fear of what the occasion meant and the implications of losing.
“Sometimes a team can be afraid to lose a game. We looked like we were afraid to win it. I think nerves were a factor.”
“Maybe there was too much said about the game and that could be our fault, too. We knew that if we won the game we had won the title and maybe some lads got that into their heads a bit too much.”
“But I’m so proud of them now and what they’ve achieved. We’ve a great squad, you couldn’t ask for a nicer bunch. I’m delighted for all of them.”
Mannion reckoned that Tyrone were strong opponents.
“Look at CJ McGourty, their full-forward played at a very high level with Antrim. Then you have Damian
Casey – they are two serious hurlers to be up against.”
“We also knew that their halfback line would be very strong so we tried to bypass them – although
AHL DIVISION 3A W L Sligo 3 0 Armagh 2 1 Tyrone 1 1 Monaghan 1 2 Longford 0 3
A Diff 60 +29 67 +11 68 +1 80 -17 116 -25
SLIGO’S SCORERS
Allianz Hurling League Division 3A 46 POINTS: Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch
(5-31, 28f, 2-0 pen, 1 ‘65’);
Joe McHugh (2-8, 1f);
Thomas Cawley (1-5);
Kevin Banks (0-6); Tony O’Kelly-Lynch (0-5); Conor Hannify, Michael Munnelly, Fionn Moylan, Finnian Cawley; ONE POINT: Rory McHugh.
SLIGO’S RESULTS
Allianz Hurling League Division 3A
Played on Saturday, May 22
ROUND TWO: Sligo 2-24, Armagh 1-18 Played on Saturday, May 29
ROUND THREE: Sligo 5-23, Longford 2-19 Played on Saturday, June 12
ROUND FOUR: Tyrone 0-14, Sligo 1-18
SLIGO’S RESULTS
Allianz Hurling League Division 3A
Saturday, June 19
ROUND FIVE: Monaghan v Sligo (Grattan Park, Inniskeen, 2pm) it always didn’t work out that way.” He added: “The four lads who came in all made a difference.
Fresh legs is what you need. We had Stephen [Fleming] back in goal and look at the saves he made.”
“Mattie [Davey] is just as good in goal so that gives us an awful headache about who to pick every week.”
Sligo, who are going up to Division 2B as champions, complete their Division 3A schedule this Saturday when they take on Monaghan at Grattan Park, Inniskeen (2pm).
Had Sligo lost to Tyrone, they would be heading to Monaghan needing a result and also relying on Armagh to overcome Tyrone.
“It is brilliant that we got to do it on our terms and our way – we’ve won Division 3A on merit.”