Sligo hurlers return to winning ways

Allianz NHL Division 3A – Round 3 

Sligo 5-19 

Louth 3-17 

Gavin Cawley in Páirc Naomh Brid, Dowdallshill 

Sligo got back to winning ways as they proved too strong for the challenge of Louth on Sunday afternoon.

Thomas Cawley put the visitors on the way early as he netted after just two minutes of play. But Sligo didn’t have all their own way as George Allen replied soon after with a goal of his own. The goals continued to rain down as Sligo netted a second goal on six minutes when Rory McHugh converted penalty before Conor Hanniffy got Sligo’s third on ten minutes. 

Sligo were a team on a mission and a fourth goal came on 14 minutes when Gerard O’Kelly Lynch scored for his side to lead 4-4 to 1-3 in a blistering start and they kept the scoreboard ticking with scores from O’Kelly Lynch, Thomas Cawley and Hanniffy to lead 4-12 to 1-10 at the break.

A fifth goal for Sligo came on 53 minutes when O’Kelly Lynch got his second goal of the afternoon to put to rest any hopes of Louth making a comeback.

To their credit, the home side kept fighting to the end and got two consolation goals through Conor Murphy but it was far too late as Sligo moved to within a point of Mayo in Division 3A of the league. They will look to ensure a spot in the league final when they take on Monaghan in Markievicz Park on Sunday, March 10.

Scorers - Sligo: Gerard O’Kelly Lynch 2-12 (0-10f), Thomas Cawley 1-2, Conor Hanniffy 1-1, Rory McHugh 1-0 pen, Michael Munnelly and Eddie O’Donoghue 0-2 each.

Louth: Darren Geoghegan 0-14 (13f), Conor Murphy 2-1, George Allen 1-0, James Costello and Conor Quigley 0-1 each.

Sligo: Declan Reidy; Donal Keaveney, Gavin Connolly, Kevin O’Kennedy; Joe McHugh, Rory McHugh, James Weir; Fionn Connolly, Tony O’Kelly Lynch; Michael Munnelly, Eddie O’Donoghue, Liam O’Kelly Lynch; Thomas Cawley, Conor Hanniffy, Gerard O’Kelly Lynch. Subs: Niall Feehily (for McHugh 39); Shane Brennan (for O’Donoghue 56); Eoghan Rua McGowan (for Weir 59); Darragh Flynn (for L O’Kelly Lynch 68).

Louth: Conor Clancy; Stephen Kettle, Andrew Smyth, Kyle Rafferty; Thomas McGreesh, Peter Fortune, Jake McNamara; Patrick Lynch, James Costello; Aaron McGuinness, Darren Geoghegan, Conor Quigley; John Casey, George Allen, Conor Murphy. Subs: Adam Plunkett (for Rafferty 17); Matthew Fee (for Smyth 36); David Stephenson (for McGuinness 51); Seaghan Conneely (for Costello 56), Sean Hodgins (for McNamara 64).

REF: Matthew Farrell (Roscommon).