Sligo comeback in vain as Yeats County stunned
Seán Harkin and Killian Gaffey with Sligo's Joshua Flynn during the Connacht SFC quarter-final between Sligo and Leitrim in Markievicz Park. Picture: INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon
Leitrim produced a major upset as they defeated Sligo for the first time since 2011, with crucial goals proving decisive in a dramatic Connacht SFC quarter-final clash at Markievicz Park.
Sligo, playing against a strong breeze in the opening half, opened the scoring through the lively Tom Prior. The sides were level on two occasions early on, before Sligo edged into control and led 0-6 to 0-2.
However, Leitrim responded strongly with an excellent goal from Barry McNulty, who produced a superb lob over the goalkeeper after a fine pass from Oisín McLoughlin.
They struck again soon after when Keith Keegan found the net, reacting quickest after a shot from Tom Prior dropped short, as Steven Poacher’s side went in at the break leading 2-7 to 0-7.
Sligo started the second half brightly, reducing the deficit to four points, but their momentum was halted when Ryan O’Rourke struck Leitrim’s third goal in the 45th minute.
Trailing by ten points with 22 minutes remaining, Sligo reignited hopes when Pat Spillane raised a green flag to bring the home crowd back into the contest.
Points from Alan McLoughlin and a two-pointer from Luke Towey cut the gap to five by the 54th minute, but McNulty, who delivered a man-of-the-match performance, responded to restore Leitrim’s five-point advantage and blunt Sligo’s momentum.
Sligo refused to go away, with McLoughlin and a superb two-pointer from Lee Deignan reducing the margin to three points with over ten minutes remaining.
McNulty once again steadied Leitrim with a vital score, but Sligo continued to press. Cian Lally narrowly sent an effort over the bar when a goal looked on, before David Quinn added another point to keep the pressure on.
Paul Honeyman appeared to have sealed victory for Leitrim in the 65th minute, but a two-pointer from McLoughlin set up a tense finish.
Sligo had late chances through Deignan and Darragh Cummins, but Leitrim held firm to secure a deserved victory, their first over Sligo since 2011 at the same venue. They will now play Galway in the Connacht semi-final in two weeks time in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Scorers - Sligo: Lee Deignan 0-1-5 (2f), Alan McLoughlin 0-1-3 (3f), Luke Towey 0-1-1 (1f), Pat Spillane 1-0, Niall Murphy 0-0-2 (1f), Cian Lally, Jack Lavin and David Quinn 0-1 each.
Leitrim: Barry McNulty 1-1-4 (1f), Oisin McLoughlin 0-0-3, Ryan O'Rourke and Keith Keegan 1-0-0, Sean Harkin and Tom Prior 0-0-2, Fergal McLoughlin and Paul Honeyman 0-0-1 each Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Tommy Ross, Jack Lavin, Luke Casserly; Luke Towey, Darragh Cummins, Paul Kilcoyne; Conor Sheridan, Canice Mulligan; Lee Deignan, Alan McLoughlin, Cian Lally; Joshua Flynn, Niall Murphy, Shane Deignan.
Subs: Kyle Cawley and Pat Spillane (for Flynn and S Deignan h/t), Daire O’Boyle (for Kilcoyne 47); Gavin Gorman (for Murphy 49), David Quinn (for Sheridan 61).
Leitrim: Killian Gaffey; Cillian McGloin, Conor Reynolds, Sean Harkin; Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley, Keith Keegan; Conor Quinn, Barry McNulty; Fergal McLoughlin, Riordan O’Rourke, Tom Prior; Ryan O’Rourke, Gavin Reynolds, Oisin McLoughlin.
Subs: Ben Guckian and Eanna McNamara (for F McLoughlin and E McLoughlin 55), Paul Honeyman (for McLoughlin 59), Jack Kelly and Michael McKiernan (for Prior and Reynolds 63).
REF: Fergal Kelly (Longford)
