SLIGO SHOCKED ROSCOMMON to set up a Connacht final showdown against five-in-a-row chasing Mayo.
A superb 1-7 from man of the match Adrian Marren helped Niall Carew’s side to a famous four-point win in a bouncing Markievicz Park.
The win was Sligo’s first in Connacht since 2012, returning them to the provincial decider for the first time since their defeat to Mayo that year.
Marren’s penalty shortly before the break proved to be decisive on a evening when the hosts out-thought and out-fought their fancied guests.
After securing back-to-back league promotions, John Evans’ Rossies were tipped by many as championship dark horses.
But they disappointed and will now have to regroup for a run in the qualifiers.
Marren’s coolly-converted goal helped Sligo to a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break, though the hosts suffered a setback when they lost debutant Cristóir Davey to a black card in stoppage time.
They had taken an early lead through a point from teenager Cian Breheny and a Marren free, while it was 10 minutes before Roscommon registered their opening score, an Enda Smith point.
At the other end they struggled to contain the lively Neil Ewing and David Kelly, both of whom proved to be a nuisance.
Advertisement
Points from Ciaráin Murtagh and Ciarán Cafferkey had Roscommon trailing by a single point, 0-6 to 0-5, before Cafferky was penalised for a push on Ewing.
Marren made no mistake, burying the penalty low to goalkeeper Darren O’Malley’s right, with Pat Hughes rounding out the scoring on the stroke of half-time.
Marren picked up where he left off with a pair of points early in the second half but Roscommon kept in touch through Cathal Cregg, Donie Smith and Murtagh.
They had a glorious chance to close the gap but Cian Connolly couldn’t finish when a loose ball fell to him with the goal at his mercy.
They did cut the deficit to three when Enda Smith pointed to make it 1-11 to 0-11 with five minutes to play, but two late scores from captain Mark Breheny made sure that Sligo would not be denied.
Scorers for Sligo: Adrian Marren 1-7, Cian Breheny, David Kelly, Mark Breheny 0-2 each, Pat Hughes 0-1.
Another win for the underdog as Sligo put the brakes on Roscommon's summer
Sligo 1-14
Roscommon 0-13
SLIGO SHOCKED ROSCOMMON to set up a Connacht final showdown against five-in-a-row chasing Mayo.
A superb 1-7 from man of the match Adrian Marren helped Niall Carew’s side to a famous four-point win in a bouncing Markievicz Park.
The win was Sligo’s first in Connacht since 2012, returning them to the provincial decider for the first time since their defeat to Mayo that year.
Marren’s penalty shortly before the break proved to be decisive on a evening when the hosts out-thought and out-fought their fancied guests.
After securing back-to-back league promotions, John Evans’ Rossies were tipped by many as championship dark horses.
But they disappointed and will now have to regroup for a run in the qualifiers.
Marren’s coolly-converted goal helped Sligo to a 1-7 to 0-5 lead at the break, though the hosts suffered a setback when they lost debutant Cristóir Davey to a black card in stoppage time.
They had taken an early lead through a point from teenager Cian Breheny and a Marren free, while it was 10 minutes before Roscommon registered their opening score, an Enda Smith point.
At the other end they struggled to contain the lively Neil Ewing and David Kelly, both of whom proved to be a nuisance.
Points from Ciaráin Murtagh and Ciarán Cafferkey had Roscommon trailing by a single point, 0-6 to 0-5, before Cafferky was penalised for a push on Ewing.
Marren made no mistake, burying the penalty low to goalkeeper Darren O’Malley’s right, with Pat Hughes rounding out the scoring on the stroke of half-time.
Marren picked up where he left off with a pair of points early in the second half but Roscommon kept in touch through Cathal Cregg, Donie Smith and Murtagh.
They had a glorious chance to close the gap but Cian Connolly couldn’t finish when a loose ball fell to him with the goal at his mercy.
They did cut the deficit to three when Enda Smith pointed to make it 1-11 to 0-11 with five minutes to play, but two late scores from captain Mark Breheny made sure that Sligo would not be denied.
Scorers for Sligo: Adrian Marren 1-7, Cian Breheny, David Kelly, Mark Breheny 0-2 each, Pat Hughes 0-1.
Scorers for Roscommon: Cathal Cregg 0-3, Ciaran Cafferkey, Enda Smith, Ciaráin Murtagh 0-2 each, Niall Daly, Donal Smith, Finbar Cregg 0-1 each.
Sligo
1. Aidan Devaney (Calry/St.Joseph)
2. Ross Donavan (Eastern Harps)
3. Kevin McDonnell (Castleconnor)
4. Daniel Maye (Tubbercurry)
5: Keelan Cawley (Coolera Standhill)
6 Brendan Egan (St.Vincent’s, Dublin)
7. Eoin Flanagan (St.John’s)
8. Cian Breheny (St.Mary’s)
9. Niall Murphy (Coolera Standhill)
10. Criostóir Davey (Coolaney/Mullinbreena)
11. Mark Breheny (St.Mary’s, capt)
12. Neil Ewing (Drumcliffe /Rosses Point)
13. David Kelly (Tubbercurry)
14. Pat Hughes (Geevagh)
15. Adrian Marren (Curry)
Roscommon
1. Darren O’Malley (Michael Glaveys)
2. Seán McDermott (Western Gaels)
3. Niall Carty (Padraig Pearses, capt
4. Neil Collins (Castlerea St. Kevins)
5. Ronan Stack (St. Brigids)
6. Niall Daly (Padraig Pearses)
7. Ciaran Cafferky (Western Gaels)
8. Ian Kilbride (St. Brigids)
9. Cathal Shine (Clann na nGael)
21. Donal Ward (Kilmacud Crokes, Dublin)
11. Cathal Cregg (Western Gaels)
12. Enda Smith (Boyle)
13. Diarmuid Murtagh (St. Faithleachs)
14. Senan Kilbride (St. Brigids)
15. Ciaráin Murtagh (St. Faithleachs)
Division 4 Antrim have stunned Laois in the first big shock of the summer
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Connacht SFC Famous Day GAA GAA 2015 Roscommon Sligo