Sligo overcome gutsy Carlow display to book Tailteann Cup quarter final

Irish Examiner

9 hours ago

Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final: Sligo 1-27 Carlow 2-19
SLIGO'S scoring power made the difference as they got over Carlow's gutsy challenge in this entertaining Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final at Kilcoyne Park, Tubbercurry.
Half a dozen first-half points from Sligo team captain Niall Murphy and Alan McLoughlin's 28th minute goal set up this win.
Carlow made a game of it thanks to a brace of second-half goals from Paddy McDonnell but Sligo's win was never in doubt.
Although Sligo and Carlow have met regularly in the Alliance Football League - their most recent meeting was in 2023 - this was a novel championship meeting.
The counties' only previous championship game was in the Qualifiers in 2001, a game that Sligo won by seven points.
The opening exchanges were even but Sligo, for whom Niall Murphy was exceptional, eventually pulled away on the scoreboard and were nine points clear, 1-15 to 0-9, with seven minutes of the first-half remaining.
Aside from Niall Murphy's accuracy, Alan Reilly and Shane Deignan also landed fine scores in that first-half.
Alan McLoughlin's goal was a smooth finish - from a Cian Lally pass - and Sligo were in control.
But Carlow finished the half with a flourish and kicked four unanswered points to make it 1-15 to 0-13 at the break.
By the 43rd minute things were back in the melting pot because two goals from Paddy McDonnell cut Sligo's lead to a point, 1-17 to 2-13.
Carlow were also down to 14 players at this stage due to a 40th minute black card for Niall Hickey.
But Sligo regained their composure as a fine two-pointer from Patrick O'Connor got the hosts back on track.
The introduction of Pat Spillane added further zip to Sligo's attack and he contributed 0-2.
Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 0-8 (1f, 1 '45'), A McLoughlin 1-3 (2f), Patrick O'Connor 0-4 (1tp), Alan Reilly 0-4, Shane Deignan 0-3, David Quinn 0-2, Pat Spillane 0-2, Canice Mulligan 0-1.
Scorers for Carlow: Paddy McDonnell 2-1, Ross Dunphy 0-4, Conor Crowley 0-3 (2f), Conor Doyle 0-3 (1f), Mikey Bambrick 0-2, Darragh Foley 0-2 (1f), John Murphy 0-1, John Phiri 0-1, Kevin Murphy 0-1, Sean Murphy 0-1.
SLIGO: A Devaney, E Lyons, E McGuinness, P McNamara, M Gordon, J Lavin, L Towey, C Mulligan, P O'Connor, A Reilly, D Quinn, C Lally, A McLoughlin, N Murphy, S Deignan.
Subs: P Spillane for S Deignan (51); D Conlon for A Reilly (59), L Deignan for M Gordon (64), E Smith for A McLoughlin (65), R Doherty for D Quinn (70).
CARLOW: J Furey, P McDonnell, M Furey, C Byrne, J Phiri, N Hickey, J Murphy, K Nolan, C Doyle, R Dunphy, C Moran, M Bambrick, C Crowley, K Murphy, S Murphy.
Subs used: P Regan for K Nolan (HT), A Amond for S Murphy (42), J Clarke for K Murphy (51), D Foley for C Doyle (58), S Clarke for M Furey (65).
Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry).