Sligo senior football team manager Tony McEntee. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Prelimary Quarter -Final
Sligo 1-27 Carlow 2-19
By Gavin Cawley at Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry
Sligo withstood a spirited fight back from Carlow as the experience of Tony McEntee’s side proved decisive.
Sligo opened the scoring through Alan Reilly, but the sides were level twice in the opening four minutes of play with Ross Dumphy and Mikey Bambrick on target for Carlow.
Sligo scored seven unanswered points as they lead 0-9 to 0-2 after 14 minutes with Sligo captain Niall Murphy causing a problems for the Carlow defence.
Despite the bright start for Sligo, Carlow came right back into the match as they only trailed by three points after 24 minutes of play with Conor Doyle, Kevin Murphy, and Paddy McDonnell among the scorers.
Sligo looked like they had taken control of the match once again when they lead 1-14 - 0-8 with the opening goal coming from Alan McLoughlin after Cian Lally and Jack Lavin were involved in the build up.
Impressive Carlow would score the final four points of the half including a brace from Conor Doyle to leave five between the scores at the break 1-15 to 0-13.
Sligo started the second half brightly once again with Reilly and Murphy extending the lead to seven points.
That was cut right back to just a point on 44 minutes as corner back Paddy McDonnell firstly found the net on 38 minutes after a Sean Murphy pass. A second goal followed on 44 minutes, an excellent goal from the Bagenalstown Gaels club man.
Sligo’s response following the consolation of the two goals was impressive with a two point from Patrick O’Connor the only two pointer of the game.
Frees from Conor Crowley kept his side in touch but five unanswered points from Tony McEntee side pushed the lead back to seven with 11 minutes to play.
Carlow battled hard in the final 10 minutes with a brace coming from Padraig Foley, but Sligo were always in control and Pat Spillane scored two points during this period.
Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 0-8 (1f, 1 45), Alan McLoughlin 1-3, Alan Reilly 0-4, Patrick O’Connor 0-4 (1tp), Shane Deignan 0-3, David Quinn, Pat Spillane 0-2 each, Canice Mulligan 0-1
Scorers for Carlow: Paddy McDonnell 2-1, Ross Dunphy 0-4, Conor Doyle 0-3 (1f), Conor Crowley 0-3 (2fs), Mikey Bambrick 0-2, Darragh Foley 0-2 (1f), Sean Murphy, Kevin Murphy, John Phiri, John Murphy 0-1 each.
SLIGO : Aidan Devaney; Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons; Mikey Gordon, Jack Lavin, Luke Towey; Canice Mulligan, Patrick O’Connor; Cian Lally, David Quinn, Alan Reilly; Alan McLoughlin, Shane Deignan, Niall Murphy.
Subs: Pat Spillane for Shane Deignan 51; Donal Conlon for Alan Reilly 59; Lee Deignan for Mikey Gordon 64; Eoghan Smith for Alan McLoughlin 65; Ross Doherty for David Quinn 70
CARLOW: Johnny Furey; Paddy McDonnell, Mark Furey, Colin Byrne; John Phiri, Niall Hickey, John Murphy; Kyle Nolan, Conor Doyle; Ross Dunphy, Ciaran Moran, Mikey Bambrick; Conor Crowley, Kevin Murphy, Sean Murphy
Subs : Aaron Amond for Sean Murphy 43; Jamie Clarke for Kevin Murphy 51; Paddy Regan for Kyle Nolan 52; Darragh Foley for Conor Doyle 57; Shane Clarke for Mark Furey 66.
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).
