MURPHY’S ANGUISH AT A VICTORY DENIED IN A TENSE FIXTURE

NIALL Murphy was one of multiple leaders for Sligo in last Saturday’s epic against Galway.

And, like so many, he was left speechless by the harsh ending to this Connacht GAA Football Championship semi-final as Galway stole a two-point win, 1-13 to 0-14, at Markievicz Park.

“I’m heartbroken,” said the Sligo captain afterwards.

“It is fair to say we were the better team and I’m so disappointed – we put ourselves in such a great position to win going into injury time and I know we kicked a few wides but their goal was gut-wrenching.”

When asked by Gavin Cawley where he thought this display sprung from, Murphy said he had belief in his teammates that they could make a game of it against Division One opponents.

“I believed that we had a great chance of winning, I really did – and I think the rest of the lads felt that way too.

He continued: “I know they [Galway] beat us by 14 points last year [in the Connacht final] but we let in two bad goals just before half-time in that game.

“We knew that if we didn’t give anything soft away this time that we could take them down the stretch.

“Maybe they aren’t as strong as last year, given the injuries they’ve had, and we’ve definitely taken a few steps forward.

“I’m not surprised by how close it was. I think our game plan worked – we stopped them going short with their

kickouts.”

Murphy referenced the 2019 Connacht semi-final loss to Galway, a fixture that Sligo lost by 13 points at Markievicz Park. Ten members of last Saturday’s 26-man matchday squad featured in that game and so, as Murphy pointed out, Sligo now have a panel with experience.

The attacker says that Sligo will get to grips with the Tailteann Cup but that it’ll take some time for the pain of this latest loss to the

Tribesmen to be absorbed.