Sligo sink Exiles to book clash with Erne boys
Daniel Clarke on the attack for London with Sligo defender Conor Sheridan in pursuit at McGovern Park last Saturday.
Gavin Gorman and Canice Mulligan struck second-half goals as Sligo avoided a banana skin and defeated London on Saturday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup. The Yeats County have since been drawn to play Fermanagh away next Saturday with the game in Brewster Park due to throw in at 5pm.
London enjoyed the advantage of a strong breeze in the opening half but failed to fully capitalise on the conditions, registering eight wides before the interval.
The hosts opened the scoring after five minutes when their homegrown star Shay Rafter finished off a move involving Sligo native Jim Davis. Sligo responded quickly to that point however, through an Alan McLoughlin free, before both sides traded further scores, leaving the sides level after 11 minutes.
London then edged two points clear through scores from Ciaran Diver and Rafter, but Sligo gradually gained control. Niall Murphy, making his 150th appearance for the Yeats County, drew the visitors level before adding to his tally, as the Sligo men finished the half strongly. Murphy struck twice during a run of three unanswered points, alongside a Shane Deignan score, to help Sligo lead 0-7 to 0-4.
Late points from Liam Gallagher and Shay Rafter had reduced the deficit to a single point at the break however, with Sligo holding a narrow 0-7 to 0-6 advantage.
Joe McGill levelled matters early in the second-half but Sligo, the breeze now behind them, seized control on 42 minutes when Gavin Gorman finished to the net following excellent work by Cian Lally and Canice Mulligan.
The goal sparked a decisive spell for the visitors. Lee Deignan added a two-pointer before Murphy extended the lead further, putting Sligo five points clear.
Mulligan then put the result beyond doubt when he found the net after Luke Towey's effort was cleverly redirected into his path.
Despite determined efforts from Rafter, McGill and Diver, London were unable to mount a comeback as Sligo comfortably saw out the closing stages to secure their place in the last eight Scorers – Sligo: Lee Deignan 0-1-3, Niall Murphy 0-0-5 (3f), Canice Mulligan and Gavin Gorman 1-0-0 each, Alan McLoughlin 0-1-1, Conor Walsh, Pat Spillane and Shane Deignan 0-0-1 each.
London: Shay Rafter 0-0-6, Joe McGill 0-0-4 (1f), Ciaran Diver and Liam Gallagher 0-0-2 each, Daniel Clarke and Conor O’Donoghue 0-0-1 each.
London: Andrew Walsh; Daire Rooney, Conor O’Donoghue, Sean O’Donohue; Finbarr Crowley, Conall Gallagher, Conor Goggin; Tighe Barry, Liam Gallagher; Daniel Clarke, Shay Rafter, Ciaran Diver; Michael O’Reilly, Joe McGill, Jim Davis. Subs: Liam Murphy (for Crowley 49), Henry Walsh (for Davis 49), Ciaran McKeon (for Clarke 54), Nathan McElwaine (for Goggin 59), Nathan Feeney (for C Gallagher 67).
Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Luke Casserly, Eddie McGuinness, Tommy Ross; Jack Lavin, Canice Mulligan, Luke Towey; Gavin Gorman, Darragh Cummins; Conor Sheridan, Alan McLoughlin, Lee Deignan; Cian Lally, Niall Murphy, Shane Deignan. Subs: Nathan Mullen (for Towey 49), Pat Spillane (for Lally 53), Mark McDaniel (for Cummins 62), Conor Walsh (for Mulligan 67), Michael Lavin (for S Deignan 69).
REF: Séamus Mulhare (Laois)
