Minors face Galway in opener
to 0-2 with 26 minutes played.
Sligo could have had a goal of their own when Galway keeper Donie Halloran came too far off his line with Eoghan Smith sending in a dangerous ball, Halloran punching the ball away from the goalmouth. Sligo did finish the first half brightly with three unanswered points from Seán Carroll and two from Gavin Duffy seeing the half-time score Sligo 0-5 Galway 2-6.
Any hopes of Sligo reducing their opponent’s lead were dented when Galway midfielder Paul Kelly pointed from play only seconds after the resumption and two more points put Galway ahead by 10. Smith responded for the hosts with a point from play and a free on 39 minutes but Galway’s fine finishing wasn’t over yet. They scored a further 1-4 to give Sligo little hope with 10 minutes remaining.
Sligo did have their own goal chance when Smith found Moylan but the shot was expertly saved by Halloran in the Galway goal.
The hosts added three accurate frees from Smith who scored all of their five points in the second half before Gill and Oisín Gormally scored the last two points for the visitors. Up next for Sligo is Mayo. SLIGO: K Harte, D Barrett, M Jennings, L Fleming, H Gilvarry, N Kilcullen, R Wilson, S Doyle, M Clavin, S Carroll (0-1), E Smith (0-6, 4f), C Finn, R Moylan (0-1), G Duffy (0-2), E Sweeney. Subs: C Hallinan for Gilvarry (b/c 5), J Davis for Finn (36), K Cosgrove for Carroll (62).
GALWAY: D Halloran (0-1, 45), C Halbard, S Black, C Deane, R Monahan (0-3, 2f), T Gill (0-2), C Sweeney, P Kelly (0-1), C Raftery (C), L Judge (0-1), A Halloran, O McCormack, O Gormally (0-3), D Cox (1-1), M Cooley (1-2). Subs: E Walsh (0-1)for Sweeney (31), E Tinney (1-0) for Cooley (42), J McLoughlin for Judge (62), D Joyce for Cox (64).
REFEREE: D Corcoran (Mayo).