Hughes and Marren’s first half goals ensure Sligo comfortably get first win in FBD League
SLIGO LEITRIM 2-17 0-13
SLIGO got their first win in the Connacht FBD League after two first half goals from Pat Hughes and Adrian Marren had Cathal Corey’s men cruising at the break. As Storm Fionn was battering Connacht sending howling winds and rain across the pitch at Bekan, credit must go to both sets of players for putting on a decent display in such challenging conditions. Again the wintry weather had called for a late switch in pitches from Cloone to Bekan as a small crowd of diehard supporters clutching brolleys huddled along the sidelines.
This was Sligo’s third match in the FBD with manager Cathal Corey bringing in as many new faces as possible to the panel. Marren, Coen and Hughes were exhibiting their experience in the opening 35 minutes, between them they got ten out of the eleven scores for Sligo, Hughes’s goal in the 10th minute and Marren’s on the stroke of half-time giving Sligo a 2-9 to 0-7 advantage at the break. Keith Beirne was accurate from free-taking for Leitrim and brought it back to a six point game on 39 minutes but from there Sligo powered on. Niall Murphy, back to the fold after representing Ireland in the International Rules Series, scored two fine points from play, with Paddy O’Connor, Sean Carrabine, Neil Ewing and corner back Mikey Gordon all scoring from play.
Despite the gruelling conditions, the first half had passages of quick, entertaining play. A Stephen Coen free to get Sligo off the mark was responded by a Beirne free, the Leitrim man’s tally was ten points in total during the 70 minutes. Sligo worked the ball well for their opening goal, Ewing, Marren and O’Connor drove forward with O’Connor’s pass almost swept away by Leitrim but Hughes was quick to snatch possession, turn and fire into the net.
Jack Heslin and Beirne brought Leitrim back within a point but the hard-working Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch and a Marren free had Sligo three in front with 15 minutes gone. Sligo were then scoring with ease, five points on the trot, two each from the impressive Marren and Hughes and one from Coen saw them ahead by 1-8 to four points on 25 minutes. Beirne slotted over two more frees for Leitrim and Ryan O’Rourke collected a free from the boot of Beirne that bounced off the post to add another as the gap was back to six points. The move of the night saw Ewing seeking out Marren with an inch-perfect pass, the Leitrim goalkeeper could do little as Marren found the net. Corey’s men lead by eight at the break. Gushing rain provided the half-time entertainment as both sides bravely got the second half underway.
Beirne pointed early and added another free to bring it back to six but Sligo kept pushing ahead, scoring eight more points to Leitrim’s four as they never ceased their grip on the game.
Both camps emptied the bench in the second half, with Murphy scoring two brilliant points from play as Sligo ran out ten point winners and securing their first victory in the Connacht FBD for 2018.
With the final game now played in the League with Mayo, it’s down to business for Corey’s outfit as focus turns to this Sunday’s opening round in the Allianz League when Sligo travel to Armagh, the side they drew with last year in Markievicz Park.
SLIGO: A Devaney, M Gordon, L Nicholson, E McGuinness, K Cawley, P Kilcoyne, G O’Kelly-Lynch, J Clarke, P O’Connor, N Ewing, F Cawley, A Marren, S Coen, P Hughes, K Cawley. Subs: S Carrabine for Marren (42), D Cummins for Nicholson (42), J O’Reilly for K Cawley (48), N Murphy for F Cawley (52), G Brady for Clarke (62), K Henry for O’Connor (62). Scorers for Sligo: Adrian Marren 1-5 (1 ‘45’), Pat Hughes 1-3, Stephen Coen (0-2, 1f), Niall Murphy (0-2), Gerard O’Kelly Lynch, Paddy O’Connor, Sean Carrabine, Neil Ewing, Mickey Gordon (0-1) each.
Leitrim: B Flynn; L Ryan, A Armstrong, N Plunkett; J O’Brien, C Canning, D Feeley; C Moreton, D Moran; J Heslin, D McGovern, K McGloin; N McWeeney, K Beirne, R O’Rourke. Subs: M McWeeney for Ryan (30), M Murphy for Armstrong (h-t), A Flynn for Feeley (41), B Gallagher for McGloin (43), C Reynolds for Heslin (50), D Rooney for Moran(50). Scorers for Leitrim: Keith Beirne 0-10 (8f), Ryan O’Rourke (0-2), Jack Heslin (0-1).
REFEREE: D Corcoran (Mayo).