Connacht FBD League Quarter-Final

SLIGO 1-21 LEITRIM 1-17

By Cian O'Connell at the NUI Galway Connacht GAA Air Dome

There was no shortage of sub plots in Bekan as the first inter-county game at the splendid €3.1 million Air Dome provided plenty of entertainment and attacking football.

Ultimately Niall Murphy's 1-10 haul ensured Sligo set up a clash in the penultimate round against Roscommon on Saturday evening.

Andy Moran's appointment as Leitrim manager has brought significant attention with Emlyn Mulligan's return another notable aspect.

Leitrim contributed handsomely to a thoroughly enjoyable encounter that was interesting from start to finish.

The game commenced at a decent clip too with Sligo, prompted by the excellent Niall Murphy, settling briskly to lead 1-5 to 0-3 by the 14th minute.

Murphy mined a sweet goal in the fifth minute gathering Alan Reilly's inviting pass before making the Leitrim net dance.

Brian Egan and Reilly were effective for Tony McEntee's team, who moved 1-8 to 0-4 in front by the 20th minute.

Then Leitrim summoned a brave response clipping 1-3 without reply including a neat goal from Darragh Rooney in the 25th minute.

Keith Beirne was sharp too for Leitrim and when the interval rolled around the teams were deadlocked at 1-10 each.

Cillian McGloin's black card at the end of the opening period meant Leitrim played for 14 minutes for 10 minutes after the restart with Sligo taking command.

Murphy was in excellent form as Sligo moved 1-18 to 1-11 ahead by the 57th minute.

Keith Beirne sparked another Leitrim riposte, but sufficient Sligo damage had been inflicted. Roscommon are next on the agenda for Sligo. Before that old foes Mayo and Galway collide at the same venue on Friday.

Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 1-10 (5fs), Pat Hughes 0-3 (2ms), Alan Reilly and Brian Egan (1m) 0-2 each, Paddy O'Connor, Keelan Cawley, Mikey Gordon, and David Quinn 0-1 each.

Scorers for Leitrim: Keith Beirne 0-9 (6fs), Darragh Rooney 1-1, Ryan O'Rourke 0-3, Paul Keaney, Donal Casey, Jack Heslin, and Riordan O'Rourke (m) 0-1 each.

SLIGO: Eamonn Kilgannon; Karl McKenna, Evan Lyons, Mark Walsh; Keelan Cawley, Paul Kilcoyne, David Phillips; Paddy O'Connor, Gavin Gorman; Brian Egan, Alan Reilly, Donal Conlon; David Quinn, Pat Hughes, Niall Murphy.

Subs: Mikey Gordon for Conlon (27), Adrian Cymmins for O'Connor (48), Stephen Regan for Egan (54), Oisin Kennedy for Cawley (54), Jack Haran for McKenna (59), Ian Barrett for Walsh (65).

LEITRIM: Brendan Flynn; Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, David Bruen; James Rooney, Donal Casey, Jack Heslin; Cillian McGloin, Donal Wrynn; Emlyn Mulligan, Keith Beirne, Evan Sweeney; Ryan O'Rourke, Darragh Rooney, Shane Quinn.

Subs: Riordan O'Rourke for Sweeney (HT), Pearce Dolan for McGloin (45), Paul Keaney for Mulligan (48), Aaron Hoare for Rooney (52).

REFEREE: Thomas Murphy (Galway).