Connacht MFC: Sligo goals see off Leitrim

ELECTRIC IRELAND CONNACHT MFC QUARTER-FINAL: LEITRIM 0-12 SLIGO 4-9

Goals proved vital for Sligo as they cruised past Leitrim in this Connacht minor quarter-final played in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday afternoon.

The Yeats County, crowned Connacht Minor League champions back in April, found the net twice in both halves to see off the challenge of the home side and set up a semi-final clash against Roscommon next Friday night.

Leitrim stayed with Sligo for most of the game at Páirc Seán MacDiarmada, but were left to rue the concession of the four goals, which came at key stages of the contest.

Leitrim took an early lead in the first quarter but Sligo moved ahead when Seán Carrabine found the net midway through the first half. Carrabine's goal was followed moments later by the first of two from Patrick O'Connor, and that put Aidan Rooney's side 2-1 to 0-3 ahead.

Leitrim rallied to trail 2-4 to 0-6 at the interval and a run of scores left them just one behind at 2-7 to 0-12 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

However, late goals from Patrick O'Connor and Rian Kennedy sent Sligo towards victory and gave the scoreline a dominant complexion from a Sligo perspective, even though this one was much closer than a first glance suggests.