Minors get ‘ 16 campaign off with Longford
SLIGO got their defence of the Connacht Minor League title underway last Sunday morning with a draw with Longford.
The minors very much put their stamp on Connacht last year by claiming the League for the first time in more than 30 years.
They reached the Championship final, with Galway taking the honours following a replay in Tuam.
This year sees David Cummins on board as manager, taking over the reins from Aidan Rooney.
Back to Sunday and while perhaps slightly disappointed with the result considering they were three points up with five minutes to play, there were plenty of positives for Sligo to take from this useful workout.
Sligo were without a number of key players due to the Connacht Post Primary Schools final last Saturday in Markievicz Park.
They fielded a line- up without players from Summerhill College and St Attracta’s but those given an opportunity showed well.
In what was a tight encounter, Sligo looked the better side for long periods. That said, Longford were 0- 4 to 0- 1 ahead after the opening quarter, but four points on the bounce from Sligo in the closing stages of the half – Sean Carrabine ( 2), Joe McHugh and Darragh Hailstones the scorers – gave them a deserved 0- 5 to 0- 4 lead heading into injury- time.
However, the concession of a goal straight from a Rory Hawkins’ free saw Sligo’s good work undone.
Undeterred by this setback, the home side started the second half brightly with three points in quick succession.
Mikey Gordon’s influence began to grow in the second period – the Easkey clubman scored two excellent points – and Sligo looked good for a first win of 2016 when they went 0- 14 to 1- 8 clear with five minutes remaining.
Points from Hailstones, Carrabine and McHugh came in this fruitful 10- minute spell, but Longford hit back with three late points to secure a draw. SLIGO: R Kelly; C Whiteside, J Haran, K McKenna; D Carroll, M Gordon ( 0- 2), L Towey; E Lavin, S Tighe; S Carrabine ( 0- 4, 2fs), R McHugh, D Hailstones ( 0- 2); R Walsh ( 0- 2), J McHugh ( 0- 3, 2fs), D Kearns. Subs used: D Sloyan, D Murphy, G Anderson ( 0- 1).