Sligo defeat Monaghan

SLIGO MONAGHAN

Celtic Challege

2-20 4-9

THIS was a cracking game of hurling with both sides giving it all, played in fine conditions with a fair breeze which aided Monaghan in the first half. Sligo were first on the score sheet with two points from play by Cahan Hallinan and Fionn Connolly. Disaster struck for Sligo when Monaghan’ s Darragh Cassidy struck the net, not once but twice and again a third time to leave Monaghan with a six point lead. Sligo played much of the hurling for the remainder of the half but still trailed Monaghan by 3-3 to 0-10 at the interval. Monaghan’s Shane Slevin got the opening point of the second half. Sligo added a number of points to their tally and half way through the half the sides were level,Sligo 0-14, Monaghan 3-5. Sligo eventually found the net after a pass from substitute Tola Carway reached Fionn Connolly who duly fired it into the net. This gave Sligo the lead for the first time in the game, 1-15 to 3-6. Monaghan levelled again with three unanswered points from frees by Mikey Carville. Sligo’s Fionn Moylan, fresh from his county Poc Fada win on Friday night scored a goal and a point to give his side the lead again. Another three points were added by Sligo before Monaghan got their fourth goal at the stroke of full time. Sligo for the final point of the game from Cahan Hallinan.

Overall Sligo were deserving of the victory as they did the most of the hurling. Sligo’s scorers played very well as did full back Eoghan Rua Mc Gowan among others. Monaghan’s award winners, free taker Mikey Carville and goal scorer Darragh Cassidy were in fine form. Sligo now look forward to a semi final on Saturday.

Sligo team: Patrick O’Connor(Ben Bulben Gaels), Fergal Curran(Easkey/St. Farnan’s), Eoghan Rua Mc Gowan(Easkey/St. Farnan’s), Paul Gallagher(Naomh Eoin), Michael Munnelly(Naomh Eoin), Shane Molloy(Easkey/St. Farnan’s), Jim Davis(Easkey/St. Farnan’s), Liam O’Kelly Lynch(Naomh Eoin), Fionn Moylan(Easkey/St. Farnan’s) (1-2), Cahan Hallinan(Easkey/St. Farnan’s) (0-6), Thomas Cawley(Easkey/St. Farnan’s) (0-8(7f), Blaine Waters(Ben Bulben Gaels), Fionn Connolly (Easkey/St. Farnan’s)(13), Padraig Mc Gowan(Ben Bulben Gaels), Fergal O’Kelly Lynch(Naomh Eoin). Subs: second half- Tola Carway (Ben Bulben Gaels)for Padraig Mc Gowan, Donal Keaveney (Naomh Eoin)(0-1)for Fergal O’ Kelly Lynch, Ethan Scully (Naomh Eoin)for Paul Gallagher.

Monaghan team: Niall Bermingham, David Brennan, Daniel Boyle, Caleb Mc Ardle, Senan O’ Brien, David Irwin, Ronan Boyle, Darragh Cassidy (4-0), Niall Mc Kenna, Michael Maguire, Shane Slevin (0-1), Mikey Carville (0-8(6f,2(65”), Darragh O’ Callaghan, Emmett Walsh, James Slevin, David Moorhead, Paudie Heavin, Fergal Flood, Ethan O’ Gorman, Zach Mc Ardle, Conal Mc Hugh, Aaron Treanor, Christopher Flood, Jack Murphy, Jordan Mc Garrell, Karl Mc Keel.

Best and Fairest Award for Sligo: Liam O’Kelly Lynch Best and Fairest Award for Monaghan: Niall Bermingham and Ronan Boyle.

Referee: Liam Gordon.