Sligo's Alan Reilly in Tailteann Cup action. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile
Tailteann Cup Group One
Sligo 2-19 (2-4-11) Leitrim 1-18 (1-2-14)
By Liam Maloney at Avant Money Páirc Seán MacDiarmada
Sligo got out of jail at Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon, as they bounced back from a seven-point deficit to beat a gritty and skilful Leitrim by four.
Barry McNulty’s cracking goal had Leitrim 1-12 to 0-8 up at one stage in the second-half and a shock result was on.
But goals from Darragh Cummins and substitute Jack Lavin, as well as a series of brilliant two-pointers from David Quinn, gave unconvincing Sligo the win that pushes them into the knockout stages with a game against Kildare left in this section.
Leitrim, on a rebuilding mission under manager Steven Poacher, gave starts to four players who were in the county’s U20 team that lost to Westmeath the previous Wednesday in a Dalata Hotel Group GAA Football All-Ireland U-20 ‘B’ Championship semi-final.
Sligo, still without former U20 captain Canice Mulligan because of injury, selected team captain Niall Murphy, who recovered from a first-half knock that forced him off in the first-half against Tipperary the Sunday before. Experienced goalkeeper Aidan Devaney was back in the team at the expense of Daniel Lyons.
Leitrim, who came into this game on the back of a 25-point loss away to Kildare in round one, 0-36 to 0-11, were hoping to avoid another drubbing, having lost to Sligo by 22 points, 0-32 to 0-10, when the sides met in March in an Allianz Football League Division Four fixture at Markievicz Park.
Sligo, who had to work hard to overcome Tipperary in their first round assignment at Kilcoyne Park, had reason to be wary of this trip to Carrick-on-Shannon.
The last time they played Leitrim here in the Tailteann Cup - the 2022 campaign - an intense quarter-final went to extra-time and penalties, with Sligo progressing.
Leitrim, who were backed by a firm breeze during the first-half, were good value for a three-point interval lead, 0-11 to 0-8.
In sweltering conditions (although the breeze helped), Leitrim were three points up with just 83 seconds gone thanks to Ben Guckian’s two-pointer and a fine score from Keith Keegan.
Sligo, who were unusually lethargic, were level by the eighth minute - 0-3 apiece - and had a goal chance denied when Pat Spillane’s cracking shot came off the crossbar.
Leitrim, for whom Keith Keegan and Darren Cox were busy, went back in front and even a 17th minute black card for Cillian McGloin didn’t disrupt their momentum.
During the 10 minutes the midfielder was in the sin bin Leitrim not only stayed ahead but established a four-point advantage, 0-10 to 0-6. Barry McNulty landed a two-pointer from a free and there was a tidy brace from Tom Prior.
Sligo just weren’t clicking although they would end the first-half with a point from Cian Lally, who drove a shot over with a goal for the taking, and David Quinn, who kicked a lovely point from a tight angle.
Leitrim brought their first-half surge into the second period and Barry McNulty’s well-struck goal in the 42nd minute - after he regained possession near the Sligo goalmouth - pushed the hosts into a seven-point lead, 1-12 to 0-8.
Sligo were on the ropes and only a superb save from Aidan Devaney, who managed to block a Darren Cox effort, prevented the gap from becoming 10 points.
The visitors’ recovery began in the 48th minute when Darragh Cummins goaled after a slick combination between Paul Kilcoyne and Cian Lally.
But even the concession of that goal as well as a classy point from Niall Murphy didn’t deter Leitrim, who were still making hay with a good share of the midfield breaks.
They were three points clear heading into the last 15 minutes, 1-14 to 1-11, but found themselves outscored 1-8 to 0-4 by a Sligo side that finally woke up.
A brace of outstanding two-pointers from play by David Quinn, who landed three of these scores in the second-half, improved Sligo’s position on the scoreboard.
Sligo’s second goal was the key score - Cian Lally was again involved and he passed to Niall Murphy who set up Jack Lavin for a close-range finish.
Patrick O’Connor’s well-taken two-pointer - his side’s fourth of the day - completed Sligo’s scoring.
Leitrim kept thundering forward in the closing stages - goalscorer Barry McNulty had a hat-trick of chances for goals, none of which went in, and substitute Joe McGloin’s goal effort was saved by Aidan Devaney.
Scorers for Sligo: David Quinn 0-8 (3 2pt), Patrick O’Connor 0-4 (1 2pt), Darragh Cummins 1-0, Jack Lavin 1-0, Niall Murphy 0-3 (1f), Alan Reilly, Cian Lally, Pat Spillane, Shane Deignan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Leitrim: Barry McNulty 1-5 (1 2pt, 2f), Tom Prior 0-3, Darren Cox 0-3 (2f), Ben Guckian 0-3 (1 2pt), James Rooney, Jack Foley, Keith Keegan, Riordan O’Rourke 0-1.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness, Paul McNamara; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Luke Towey; Paul Kilcoyne, Patrick O’Connor; Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Cian Lally; Alan McLoughlin, Niall Murphy, Pat Spillane.
Subs: Jack Lavin for Luke Towey (48), Mikey Gordon for Alan Reilly (48), Shane Deignan for Pat Spillane (60), Peter Laffey for Paul Kilcoyne (70).
Leitrim: Daire O’Shea; Eanna McNamara, Donal Casey, Kieran Clancy, James Rooney, Mark Diffley, Jack Foley; Barry McNulty, Cillian McGloin; Jack Flynn, Keith Keegan, Tom Prior; Ben Guckian, Riordan O’Rourke, Darren Cox.
Subs: Conor Quinn for Cillian McGloin (62), Joe McGloin for Keith Keegan (66), David Feeney for Riordan O’Rourke (70).
Referee: James Molloy (Galway).
