Hurlers lose unbeaten status
Allianz Hurling League Division 3A – Round Five Sligo 0-14 Mayo 2-12
ALL IS not lost for Sligo’s senior hurlers – far from it – despite seeing their unbeaten run in this season’s Allianz Hurling League ended by Mayo in the wind and rain last Saturday afternoon.
Had Sligo won, instead of falling to a four-point defeat, 2-12 to 0-14, they would have topped Division 3A and qualified for the final.
Sligo are now into a semi-final and face Cavan this Saturday at Markievicz Park (2pm). A win here will set up a rematch with Mayo, who have ex-Sligo boss Padraig Mannion in their management team.
The Stephen Sheilmanaged Sligo, fielding a stronger team that what lined out against Monaghan the previous weekend, looked on course for a useful result when leading 0-10 to 0-3 at half-time.
At one stage of that firsthalf Sligo’s advantage was a praiseworthy seven points, 0-7 to 0-0, and, indeed, they could have ended the opening period with a goal but Fionn Connolly fizzed a shot over when a goal was one.
This game, which was played in terrible weather conditions, turned in the early minutes of the second-half when Sligo full-back Gavin Connolly was red-carded (although few could understand what it was for).
Mayo landed five points without reply and then Thomas Cawley supplied the first of Sligo’s four second-half scores. A goal from Mayo substitute Joseph Burke made things worse for 14-man Sligo but the home side reduced the gap to a point, 1-12 to 0-14, in stoppage time.
A second Mayo goal ended gutsy Sligo’s comeback hopes – full-forward Eoin Delaney was on target with this three-pointer – as Sligo were left with food for thought and the chance of redemption against their Connacht neighbours but only if they overcome the Cavan hurdle this weekend. (c) (0-1), Gavin Connolly, Niall Kilcullen, James Weir, Niall Feehily, Fionn Connolly (0-2), Rory McHugh (0-1), Fionn Moylan,
Joe McHugh (0-1), Michael Munnelly (0-1), Finnian Cawley (0-2), Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch (0-4, 4f), Conor Hanniffy (0-1), Thomas Cawley (0-1)
Subs used: Liam O’Kelly-Lynch, Shane Brennan, Eoghan Rua McGowan
Subs not used: Darragh Cawley, Darragh Flynn, Dónall Hanley, Oisin Hennessy,
Donal Keaveny, Donnchadh O’Brien, Fergal O’Kelly-Lynch, Tony O’Kelly-Lynch
Bobby Douglas (0-1, 1f), Luke Connor, Danny Hill, Oisin Greally, Conal Hession (0-1), David Kenny (c) (0-1), Eoghan Collins (0-1), Daniel Huane, John Heraty, Sean Kenny, Liam Lavin (0-2), Cormac Phillips (0-3, 1f), Shane Boland (0-2, 2f), Eoin Delaney (1-1), Michael Farrell
Subs used: Matthew Connor, Joseph Burke (1-0)
Referee: Tarlach Conway (Derry) pictured,
Tom Bailey (Tourlestrane); Conor Johnston, Eoin Barrett (Coolaney-Mullinabreena); Oisin Brennan (Ballymote); Dillon Walsh, Daire Callaghan (Owenmore Gaels); Ronan Niland, Conor Flynn, Ronan O’Hehir, Robert O’Kelly-Lynch, Eli Rooney, Fintan Campbell (St Mary’s); Ethan Carden (Enniscrone-Kilglass); Conor Walsh, Cian Carty (Eastern Harps); James Donlon, Paul O’Brien, Rian O’Callaghan, Ross Chambers (Drumcliffe-Rosses Point); Conor Sheridan, Conor McMorrow,
Oisin Conlon (Shamrock Gaels); Kyle Davey (St Michael’s); Oran Harte, Mark McDaniel, Ross Doherty (CooleraStrandhill); Dylan McLoughlin, Tommy Ross, Stephen Donoghue (Curry); Eoin O’Donnell, Joshua Flynn (Tubbercurry); Ryan Gillespie (Easkey); Ciaran Kenny (Shamrock Gaels); Gavin Lynch (Calry-St Joseph’s); Luke Marren (Bunninadden); Marty Murray, Jamie McCoy (Eastern Harps); Michael Sheridan, Stephen Rogan (Castleconnor); Rossa Sloyan (Easkey)