Croke Park beckons once more as hurlers defeat Fermanagh
Coolera/Strandhill man added a second a minute later Sligo took the lead once again.
A foul on Larry Cadden was sent between the posts by the accurate corner back Eoin Comerford before moments later Kieran Prior added another from play to give Sligo a 0-5 to 0-2 lead with 9 minutes played as the hosts looked in control.
Curran sent over a long-range free which was greeted with applause from the travelling Fermanagh support before it was Banks again who responded for Sligo with an excellent run and pointed from a difficult angle on 13 minutes.
Then Fermanagh scored what was the game’s only goal using the height advantage of full forward John Paul McGarry with a long range ball finding its way play stopped for sometime.
Another free for Sligo was converted by Raymond as Sligo went on a scoring rampage before half-time, with Comerford (free) and Banks from play giving Sligo a three-point lead at the break with McGarry getting the last point for Fermanagh as the visitors trailed 0-12 to 1-6 after an exciting opening half.
Sligo would go on to outscore Fermanagh by 8 points to 7 in the second half and it was the Northerners who got off to a bright start with Curran converting two frees to bring it back to a one point game.
Sligo’s first score in the second half came ten minutes in when Cadden scored from play and the Coolera/Strandhill man added another a minute later to give Sligo a three point lead on 46 minutes.
Barry McPhillips sent over a fine score for the visitors before Sligo scored three unanswered points on the bounce with Banks and two from Comerford as they lead by five with substitute Joe McHugh seeing his goal chance saved by the Fermanagh keeper.
Two points from Fermanagh’s Aaron Magee and the lively Curran meant only a goal separated them with 15 minutes to go.
Dual player Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch was introduced for Sligo on 54 minutes and he also had a goal chance which went narrowly wide.
Sligo went into a 4-point lead again through Comerford but Fermanagh never gave up and a Ciaran Rafferty free was followed with another converted free from Curran on 65 minutes as only two points were between them with five minutes remaining.
The intensity was certainly building with Fermanagh trying to find a goal but Sligo’s defence clung on with Raymond and full-back Conor O’Mahony impressive as Reidy made a fine save in the closing stages.
Points from Banks and substitute Frankie O’Flynn were met with loud cheers from the home support as they knew Croke Park was calling once again for the Sligo hurlers.
SLIGO: D Reidy, J Weir, C O’Mahony, T Brennan, E Comerford, K Raymond (C), N Feehily, R Cox, G Cadden, K Prior, D Collery, K Banks, N McDermott, E McDonagh, L Caddedn.
Substitutes: J McHugh for Collery (h/t), F O’Flynn for Prior (54) G O’Kelly-Lynch for L Cadden (54), T O’Kelly-Lynch for McDonagh (59).
Scorers: Comerford (0-6, 4f), K Banks (0-6). G Cadden (0-3), K Raymond (0-2, 2f), L Cadden (0-1), K Prior (0-1), F O’Flynn (0-1).
FERMANAGH: C McPhillips, A Breslin, M Slevin, D Purcell, C Rafferty, B Duffy, E Cleary, R Porteous, R Bogue, S Curran, T Cleary, C MacShea, B McPhillips, J P McGarry, A MacShea.
Substitutes: A Magee for Porteous (h/t), O Russell for A MacShea (56), B Jones for Cleary (66).
Scorers: J P McGarry (1-1), S Curran (0-8 5f 1 65), C MacShea (0-1) B McPhillips (0-1), A Magee (0-1), C Rafferty (0-1).
REFEREE: J Clarke (Cavan).