11-05-2025
Sligo edge Tipperary in Tailteann opener
Tailteann Cup: Sligo 2-15 Tipperary 2-10
Sligo started their Tailteann Cup campaign off with a win but they were made to work for the victory against a very spirited Tipperary side.
The wet underfoot conditions ensured both sides took a couple of minutes to settle but Tipperary got the opening score of the match on five minutes through Paudie Feehan.
Sean O'Connor added a point as the visitors lead by four points.
Sligo finally got on the scoreboard on seven minutes with team captain Niall Murphy pointing after good build-up play by Cian Lally. Steven O'Brien landed a very good score as he caught a massive ball in the middle before pointing.
Sligo kept themselves in touch with scores from Murphy and McLoughlin scoring before Mark Stokes' excellent point.
Steven O'Brien was causing plenty of problems for Sligo as the team captain landed a super two-pointer to lead once again by four points.
Sligo would take control of the remainder of the half as they scored 2-4 without reply with points from David Quinn and Alan Reilly cutting the deficit firstly to a single point.
Sligo netted their first goal of the match on 23 minutes with Pat Spillane scoring after he was quickest to react to an effort from Alan McLoughlin.
Niall Murphy was also forced off injured after the goal. Sligo added a second goal this time through McLoughlin as the goal was set up by Quinn and Luke Towey as Sligo led by six points after 33 minutes of play.
Tipperary were given a lifeline before the break as they netted a second goal through O'Connor from the penalty spot after Kieran Costello was fouled by Eddie McGuinness and the Sligo full back was shown a black card.
Sligo led at break 2-9 - 2-6 but started the second half with 14 players.
Tipperary started the second half brightly with a point from O'Connor from a free to cut the gap to two points.
They were boosted further when Sligo went down to 13 players when Shane Deignan picked up a black card for a body collision to ensure Tony McEntee's side would have to play seven minutes with 13 players.
Micheal Freaney landed a mark and this was followed by a point from Cian Smith as the sides were level after 46 minutes of play, 2-9 - 2-9.
Patrick O'Connor put Sligo in front again on 51 minutes and two further points followed from McLoughlin and Spillane to put Sligo in control of the match once again.
Tipperary looked for a way back into the match and had two goal chances in the final 15 minutes through O'Connor and Freaney, but both efforts were denied by Lyons and the crossbar, respectively.
The Kerry native Spillane gave Sligo the bonus of a four-point margin with 67 minutes played. Substitutes Ross Doherty and Darragh Cummins both tagged on scores before the end.
Scorers for Sligo: Alan McLoughlin 1- 3,2f; Pat Spillane 1-2; Alan Reilly, David Quinn, Niall Murphy, Patrick O'Connor 0-2, Ross Doherty, Darragh Cummins 0-1 each.
Scorers for Tipperary: Sean O'Connor 1- 4, 1pen,1f; Steven O'Brien 0-3,1 tp; Paudie Feehan 1-0; Mark Stokes, Cian Smith, Micheal Freaney 0-1 each.
Sligo: D Lyons; E Lyons, E McGuinness, P McNamara; B Cox, N Mullen, L Towey; P Kilcoyne, P O'Connor; C Lally, D Quinn, A Reilly; A McLoughlin, N Murphy, P Spillane
Subs: S Deignan for N Murphy 23; D Conlon for S Deignan 49; D Cummins for P Kilcoyne 53; R Doherty for B Cox 61; M Gordon for A Reilly 65.
Tipperary: S Ryan; M McFadden, J Feehan, J Harney; M Stokes, L Boland, J O'Neill; P Feehan, K Costello; M Freaney, D Hogan, S O'Brien; C Smith, D Brennan, S O'Connor.
Subs: M O'Shea for D Brennan 32, M Russell for J O'Neill 46; E Moloney for J Harney 50; J Morris for P Feehan 61; B Comerford for D Hogan 70.
Referee: Sean Hurson (Tyrone)
