WHEN SLIGO LAST BEAT GALWAY

IT IS 12 years since Sligo last defeated Galway in the Connacht

GAA Football Senior Championship – that was a semi-final fixture in June of 2014 at Salthill’s Pearse Stadium.

Curry’s Adrian Marren, who retired from the inter-county scene in 2021, was Sligo’s main man at the Galway venue – he scored 2-6 as Sligo won by five points, 2-14 to 0-15. Sligo, then managed by Galway native Kevin Walsh, were four points down at half-time, 0-9 to 0-5, but this was after a first-half during which Galway were backed by the breeze. The Tribesmen also shot six wides in that first-half.

Four points without reply brought Sligo level by the 46th minute and although Galway went back in front, Sligo took charge when Adrian Marren calmly converted a spot-kick after 55 minutes. Marren’s second goal came in the 67th minute when he clipped home from play after he was picked out by Alan Costello’s measured pass.

Galway brought on legendary forwards Michael Meehan and Padraic Joyce in the second-half and another of their high-profile attackers, Sean Armstrong, was restricted to just one point from play. Mark Hehir bagged 0-7 (0-6 from frees) for the losers.

This massive result for Sligo was to no avail, however, as they lost the provincial decider to

Mayo by two points, 0-12 to 0-10. This was a second Connacht final appearance in three years for Sligo, who would next contest the decider in 2015.

Sligo (v Galway, Connacht SFC semi-final 2012): Philip Greene, Neil Ewing, Johnny Martyn, Ross Donovan (c), Charlie Harrison, Mark Quinn, Paul McGovern, Shane McManus, Eugene Mullen, Brendan Egan, Pat Hughes (0-1), Alan Costello (0-3, 1f), David Kelly (0-2), Adrian Marren (2-6, 0-1 ‘45’, 1f, 1-0 pen), Mark Breheny (0-1)

Subs used: Tony Taylor, David Maye, Johnny Davey for Paul McGovern