New-look ladies’ valiant effort
ROUND 1 LIDL NFL Sligo when Sarah Reynolds make a great run thought the Clare back line, she laid it off to Sinead Naughton who calmly struck the back of the net. Sligo added three more points two from Katie Walsh (1f) and a well taken point from Reynolds which left Sligo ahead on a score line of 1-4 to 0-04. Considine put over two more points as the half came to a close to cut Sligo’s lead to a point at the break.
Both managers made a change at the break, Clare brought on Niamh O’Dea while Sligo replaced Aimee Cawley with Elaine O’Reilly.
It was Clare that started the better of the sides, hitting 6 unanswered points, 2 from Niamh O’Dea, three off the boot of Considine and one each from Catriona Callinan and Emma McMahon. Soon after Sligo got their second goal of the game from the excellent Reynolds. Both sides had a player in the sinbin in the second half, Denise McGrath for Sligo and Considine for Clare.
Sligo pulled level in the last five minutes through a Katie Walsh free and a first point from Louise Merrick on her debut for Sligo. Clare hit back with an O’Dea point with less than a minute to play. Sligo did have one last chance when they were awarded a free kick just outside the 13m line unfortunately it was placed wide of the mark giving Clare all three points.
Speaking after the game Sligo manager Paddy Henry said he was very pleased with his team’s effort saying no one gave his team a chance coming down there and the girls showed serious guts and heart and that’s all he could ask of them.
Sligo welcome Tyrone in round 2 next Sunday in Collooney at 2pm.