Sligo SFC Final: St. Mary's dethrone Shamrock Gaels

Sligo SFC Final

St Mary’s 1-12, Shamrock Gaels 1-10

By Liam Maloney at Markievicz Park

St. Mary’s are Sligo GAA SFC champions for the first time since 2015 after an overall efficient defeat of holders Shamrock Gaels at Markievicz Park.

Robert O’Kelly-Lynch’s first-half goal and seven points from full-forward Nathan Rooney, son of Leitrim legend Aidan, got St Mary’s the prize.

This was a unique occasion for both finalists. Shamrock Gaels, who won the Owen B Hunt Cup the previous year to end a gap going back to 1992, were aiming to retain the coveted trophy for the first time in their history.

St Mary’s, who were previously finalists in 2022 and last champions in 2015, were looking to mark their 50th year in existence, having been founded in 1976.

Shamrock Gaels drew first blood with a point from Niall Kenny, brother of Republic of Ireland senior men’s soccer international Johnny Kenny, and one of three Kenny brothers in the Shamrock Gaels team.

Wind-assisted St Mary’s, who lost to Shamrock Gaels in the round-robin phase back in August, struck for a decisive score after seven minutes when inter-county hurler Robert O’Kelly-Lynch found the net from Paul Kilcoyne’s pass.

That goal settled St Mary’s, who would see a lot of the ball, but they should have been further ahead on the scoreboard as they kicked five first-half wides.

Midway through the first-half Shamrock Gaels pointed for the second time - Shane Deignan on target - but St Mary’s growing dominance saw them go five points clear, 1-4 to 0-2, when Kyle Cawley pointed.

Shamrock Gaels talisman David Quinn, who came into this contest with 1-38 from five appearances, pointed a 29th minute free for his first score of the game.

St Mary’s took a six-point cushion into the break, 1-6 to 0-3, thanks to a two-pointer free from Nathan Rooney.

Shamrock Gaels were wind-assisted for the second-half but it was St Mary’s who enhanced their lead with scores from the Rooney brothers - a classy two-pointer from Nathan and a pointed free by Eli.

Even at this stage it felt as if things were drifting away from Shamrock Gaels, who needed a big two-pointer from Ciaran Kenny.

A significant turning point came in the 47th minute when St Mary’s goalkeeper James Cronin superbly saved David Quinn’s penalty kick and the subsequent follow-up.

But that save galvanised Shamrock Gaels, who goaled from play when Shane Deignan netted from a pass by the hard-working Patrick Kenny.

With a minute of normal time left the gap was down to a point, 1-11 to 1-10, after Shamrock Gaels hit points from Shane Deignan, David Quinn and Ciaran Kenny.

But St Mary’s, who had come through close encounters in their quarter-final and semi-final wins, showed sufficient resilience and a classy pointed free from Nathan Rooney, who kicked 0-7 in all and was later named Player of the Match, sealed the deal in stoppage time.

Scorers for St Mary’s: N Rooney 0-7 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f), R O’Kelly-Lynch 1-0, E Rooney 0-2 (1f), F O’Hehir, F Campbell, K Cawley 0-1 each.

Scorers for Shamrock Gaels: S Deignan 1-2, D Quinn 0-3 (3f), C Kenny 0-3 (1tp), P Kenny 0-1, N Kenny 0-1

St Mary’s: James Cronin; Scott Lynch, Ryan Feehily, Fionn O’Hehir; Patrick Brady, Paul Kilcoyne, Robert O’Kelly-Lynch; Gerard O’Kelly-Lynch, David McGovern; Fintan Campbell, Finn Young, Conor Davey; Kyle Cawley, Nathan Rooney, Eli Rooney Subs used: Ronan Niland for Conor Davey (40), Emlyn Mulligan for Robert O’Kelly-Lynch (50), Brian Meehan for Finn Young (59), Stephen Coen for Eli Rooney (59); Marc Clifford for Fintan Campbell (60+2)

Shamrock Gaels: Daniel Lyons; Ben Tuohy, Evan Lyons, Karl McKenna; Sean Carroll, Conor Sheridan; Ciaran Kenny, Dillon McDermott, George Barlow; Patrick Kenny, David Quinn, Lee Deignan; Johnny Quinn, Shane Deignan, Niall Kenny. Sub used: Luke Flynn for Johnny Quinn (48)

Referee: Ciaran McGovern