Winning start for Masters
SLIGO APPLIED STRONG PRESSURE ON LONDON’S KICK-OUTS
SLIGO Masters proved too strong for the visiting London in wet and windy conditions in the superb Swinford grounds last Saturday.
London’s enthusiasm and effort wasn’t reflected in the 4-19 to 0-01 score-line. Competitive and honest in the exchanges, London were guilty of the major mistake of coughing up possession too easily once they hit the Sligo 45; a mistake Sligo made in many games last year.
This allowed Sligo build and they moved the ball swiftly and accurately into the scoring area.
Wearing the white and green of Bunninadden due to a colour clash, Sligo were moving nicely. With Paul Taylor, Michael Moyles and Johnny Kenny linking well the scores came for Sligo whose movement and passing created the chances despite playing into a strong wind.
With the defence strong and working hard, London were limited to a number of free kick opportunities, only taking one.
Dominating possession, Sligo hit some nice points with Johnny Kenny (0-3) to the fore, the raiding David Durcan taking a good point and Pascal Gillard picking off a beauty with his left foot.
Dermot Browne finished a sweeping move to the net give Sligo a 1-12 to 0-1 half-time lead.
Playing into the strong wind London packed up their defence with the result that the game lost shape.
Sligo applied strong pressure on the London kick-out and scores resulted.
Paul Taylor, central to much of the good forward play, hit two points and was unlucky to see a chip after intercepting a kick-out hit the side-netting.
Michael Moyles finished with 0-4 and some of his long-range scores were fantastic.
Pat Fenton, making his debut, also scored a point.
There were also second-half goals from Eamonn O’Hara (2) and Dermot Browne (top-scorer with 2-4).
All 27 Sligo players got game time and contributed with Championship debuts for Francis Candon of Eastern Harps, Michael Moyles of Enniscrone/Kilglass, Terry Farrelly of St. Johns, Francis O’Hara of Tourlestrane, Blair Foley of St Molaise Gaels, Martin Nealon of Easkey and Pat Fenton of Coolera-Strandhill.
Sligo now face All-Ireland champions Mayo in Ballymote next Wednesday, July 26th, at 7.30 pm in Round 2 of the Championship.
Mayo defeated Sligo by four points in the first round in the same venue last year, but the hosts will hope to have learned enough from last year’s Masters’ experience to come out the right side of what should be a tough and tight encounter.
Neil Carew, Reggie McNulty, Gerry Monaghan and Ray Kilcoyne have their charges in good order for a cut at the champions.
Sligo Panel: Gerry Dooner; Damien Kelly, Declan Cawley, Mark Boland; Morgan McCormack, David Durcan (0-1), Frances Candon; Con O’Meara, Paul Durcan; Eamonn O’Hara (2-0), Paul Taylor (0-3), Padraic Doohan; Christy Walsh, Nigel Clancy (0-2), Johnny Kenny (0-3). Repacements (all used): Michael Moyles (0-4), Pat Fenton (0-1), Pascal Gillard (0-1), Dermot Browne (2-4), Fintan Kennedy, Terry Farrelly, Francis O’Hara, Blair Foley, Ronan Keane, Garrett Mullaney, Martin Nealon, and Gary Mullen.