Controversial late goal denies Sligo win as Rossies snatch draw
Gerard O'Kelly Lynch was in action during Sligo's Nicky Rackard Cup tie against Roscommon. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo
A Roscommon goal in the 78th minute, despite only three minutes of injury time having been allocated, saw a dramatic finish to this encounter between neighbours Sligo and Roscommon in Markievicz Park.
The visitors netted a late, late goal courtesy of Jack Donnelly to see it finish all square in Round 2 of this year's Nicky Rackard Cup. The late goal sees the Rossies pick up their first point of the championship while Sligo move into second in the table on three points, a point behind Mayo.
Sligo opened the scoring with a point from Andrew Kilcullen but the sides were soon level when Finn Killion replied for the Roscommon men.
The sides were level twice, more with Paul O’Brien and Thomas Cawley both on target for the home side, but the sides were again all tied up after 17 minutes of play. Cathal Kenny put the Saffron and Blue in front for the first time on 22 minutes but the sides were level again for a fourth time a minute later with a point from Paul O’Brien.
Roscommon would take control of the match from here until the interval as they scored five without reply to lead 0-9 to 0-4 at the break, with Conor Cosgrove and Kenny among the scores.
Sligo had a bright start to the second half, scoring four points inside five minutes to cut the gap to single point, with a brace from Kilcullen, Eddie O’Donoghue and Paul O’Leary all on target for the Yeats County, but Conor Cosgrove landed a free on 45 minutes to restore a two-point lead for Roscommon.
Darragh Flynn and Andrew Kilcullen both scored for Sligo as the away side drew themselves level for the fifth time. Roscommon would restore their two point advantage with 13 minutes to play but the response from the home side was impressive as they scored four without reply, three points coming from Andrew Kilcullen.
The sides were level again when Robbie Fallon and Keelan Ryan landed scores for the Roscommon men, but Kilcullen looked like he won the game for Sligo as they led by three points as the game was injury time.
The late goal from Donnelly, however, denied Sligo the win which they really deserved, and voiced their displeasure towards referee James Judge after the final whistle went over the amount of added time played.
