Hurlers dominate
SLIGO 3- 17 LONGFORD 1- 14
AT MARKIEVICZ PARK THE earlier game on Sunday afternoon in sunny Markievicz Park saw Sligo hurlers emerge nine point winners in their league game with Longford.
Keith Raymond was on a scoring spree for the hosts, the Calry/ St Joseph’s man netted 2- 10 in total as Sligo were stronger on the attack.
Seven points separated the sides at the break and Longford put on a more polished second half, scoring 1- 6 to Sligo’s 1- 8.
The visitors were the first to score through corner forward Paddy Farrington in the second minute, which was followed by another from Cathal Mullane through a free on five minutes. Raymond got his first from a free which was added to moments later by Alan Markham from play.
Raymond got a fantastic long range point before Sligo went on the attack again and this time the game’s first goal arrived through none other than Raymond, putting three between them.
A brilliant save from Longford keeper Breen Elliot on 18 minutes denied Michael O’Callaghan’s shot and kept Longford in the chase while Tony O’Kelly- Lynch, scoring a fine point from play, then put Sligo four ahead.
Further scores from Raymond and a second from O’Kelly- Lynch had Sligo five to the good before Longford’s deficit increased on 33 minutes as Raymond found the net once again.
Sligo lead 2- 9 to Longford’s eight points at the break and the second half was another dominating one from the hosts.
Longford were first off the mark through a Cathal Mullane free, putting six between them but this was cancelled out by the inspiring O’Kelly- Lynch on 39 minutes.
Mullane added another free with eleven minutes of the half played but the Sligo scoring continued as there seemed to be little hope of Longford turning over the deficit.
Three points in three minutes from Raymond had the Yeats County nine in front with 47 min- utes played.
Longford kept chasing and were awarded for their efforts with a goal through Paddy Farrington on 48 minutes.
The visitors were then given a penalty on 51 minutes. Mullane was adjudged to have been brought down by referee Kevin McGeeney, the Sligo players were not happy and Mullane stood up to take the shot which was saved by Declan Loughnane in the Sligo goal.
A Mullane free had them back within five points with 15 to go as Sligo hadn’t scored for ten minutes.
O’Kelly- Lynch got his fourth point on 57 minutes which was responded with a Patrick Walsh free with ten minutes to go as five separated them.
A further point from Raymond and 1- 1 from substitute Eolan McCarthy wrapped things up for the hosts.
SLIGO: D Loughnane, E Comerford, A Morrison, G Feely, C Behan, S O’Connor, L Reidy, T O’Kelly- Lynch ( 0- 4), T Brennan, M O’Callaghan, D Collins ( 0- 1), M Comerford, A Markham ( 0- 1), E McDonagh, K Raymond ( 2- 10).
Subs: J McHugh, E McCarthy ( 1- 1), R Brennan, T Kelly. LONGFORD: B Elliot, C McLoughlin, E Kavanagh, S Farrell, T Egan, K Murray, D Duggan ( 0- 1), P Barden, P Walsh ( 02, 1f), C Keegan ( 0- 1), J Casey ( 0- 1), S O’Brien, P Farrington ( 1- 1), R Murray, C Mullane ( 0- 8, 5f). Subs: J Mulhern, A Sorohan. REFEREE: Kevin McGeeney ( Roscommon).