Of the spoils
goalkeeper, made a superb stop.
Galway turned up the heat and had multiple goal chances – there were attempts from Brian O’Malley, Charlie Killeen and Niall de Paor.
When Niall Duffy landed his fifth pointed free of the game in the last minute it put a point between the sides, 2-5 to 0-10, and Sligo were almost out the gap with what would have been a hard-fought and merited win.
But the home side had the final say – thanks to Killian Joyce, who could be Galway’s next big thing, and the efforts of Ethan Forde at corner-back – as Sligo were relieved that Galway kicked 11 wides, nine of these coming in the first-half. Sligo’s next assignment is a home fixture against Leitrim tomorrow, Friday, at Markievicz Park (6.45pm).
Sligo: Gareth Cummins, Conor Murray, Noah Phillips, Shane Murphy, James Lavin (c), Alexander Lillie, Patrick Brady, Cian Nicholson, Conor McDonagh, Eoin Finnerty, Niall Duffy (0-5, 5f), Danny Woodrow, Cathal Gilligan, Marc Clifford (1-0), Adam Feeney (1-0)
Subs used: Conor Langan, Aaron Healy, Matthew Walsh
Subs not used: Farrell Moran, Dante Currid, Tadhg Murphy, Ben Cawley, Logan Markey Galway: Jamie King, Donnacha Naughton, Sean Martyn, Ethan Forde, Cian Raftery, Tiarnan Proulx, Brian O’Malley, Richard McGrath, Michael Leahy, Ronan Duggan, Killian Joyce (0-6, 2f), Charlie Killeen (0-2), Sean Costello, Niall de Paor (0-1, 1f), Luke Dempsey (0-1)
Subs used: Eoin Ó Cualain (0-1), Shay Rabbitte, Pat Murphy, David Kilraine Referee: Brendan Healy
the interval, 1-5 to 0-7. Four Leitrim points without reply put Sligo on the back foot and Conor Sheridan’s excellent point, from a Mark McDaniel pass, was needed to stop the rot.
Eli Rooney set up Ross Doherty for a goal chance that was saved and it was a second moment of frustration for Doherty, who prodded wide earlier when given sight of goal by Connor Flynn.
Luke Marren announced his arrival with a fine point and the gap was back to a point, 0-11 to 1-7.
Then Leitrim reeled off 1-2, with big points coming from Jack Casey and substitute Tom Plunkett, as well as that Darren Cox goal, and Sligo were in deep trouble.
But Sligo had Luke Marren, a forward on a mission, and thankfully he answered the call with considerable panache.
Best for Sligo: Luke Marren
Sligo: Ethan Carden, Ross Chambers,
Conor Johnston, Tommy Ross, Rian O’Callaghan, Dylan McLoughlin, Rossa Sloyan (0-2), Conor Sheridan (0-2), Ross Doherty, Conor Walsh, Ronan Niland, James Donlon, Connor Flynn (1-1), Mark McDaniel, Eli Rooney (0-2)
Subs used: Dillion Walsh, Robert O’Kelly-Lynch, Luke Marren (1-4, 1-0 pen, 2f), Ronan O’Hehir, Stephen Rogan Subs not used: Jamie McCoy (gk), Eoin Barrett, Cian Carty, Daire Callaghan
Leitrim: Brian Cull, Arek Oberwan, Ryan Cunnigham, Eanna McNamara, Paddy Keane (0-1), Jack Foley, Michael McBrien, Barry McNulty (0-4,
2f), Ben Guckian, Darren Cox (1-2), Paul Moran, Jack Casey (0-3), Jake Tobin, Paul Honeyman (0-2, 2f), Naoise McManus
Subs used: Tom Plunkett (0-1), Joe McGloin (0-1)
Referee: Ian Monaghan (Roscommon)
STANDINGS
CONNACHT U-20 FOOTBALL C’SHIP
W L Diff 2 1 +9 0 0 0 1 1 -1 1 1 -4 0 1 -4
1. Galway
2. Roscommon
3. Mayo
4. Leitrim
5. Sligo with a clever through ball – but a Leitrim interception foiled this attack in the wet conditions.
James Donlon had worked hard in that opening period, with Rossa Sloyan also involved.
Leitrim were stubborn, however, and Sligo’s lead was cut to a point by