Sport

Sligo make a point for championship

Mayo slumped to their second league defeat in three weeks when they went under to neighbours Sligo at Charlestown yesterday.

Mon Mar 06 2000 - 00:00

Mayo slumped to their second league defeat in three weeks when they went under to neighbours Sligo at Charlestown yesterday.

Early-season form by Mayo has been pretty dismal and relegation is staring them in the face with two difficult closing games against Meath and Down.

Sligo deserved their win and their large following in the crowd of over 5,000 relished this rare victory over Mayo. It is 27 years since Sligo defeated Mayo in the league and this win sets the scene for an intriguing opening-round game in the Connacht championship when they meet in Markievicz Park in June.

Two points from play by Colm McManamon gave the home side an early lead but Sligo battled back with points from frees by Tommy Brennan and Paul Taylor and it was Taylor who kicked the best point of the half to edge Sligo into a 0-4 to 0-3 interval lead.

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The only goal arrived seven minutes into the second half when the Mayo defence failed to deal with a dropping ball and Kevin Giblin booted it to the net. Paul Durcan and Eamon O'Hara won a lot of midfield possession in the third quarter and the Sligo defence, especially the half-back line of David Durkin, Mark Cosgrove and Ronan Keane, proved highly effective.

With 15 minutes to play, Sligo led by 1-7 to 0-4. Mayo introduced James Nallen and, together with Kieran McDonald who had come on earlier, they helped to rally the home side and two points from McDonald and one from Stephen Carolan cut the margin to three. Trevor Mortimer came close to grabbing a late equaliser but Sligo held firm for a famous victory.

Sligo: P Walsh; M Langan, N Clancy, B Phillips; D Durkin, M Cosgrove, R Keane; E O'Hara, P Durkin; K Giblin (1-0), P Taylor (0-3), S Davey; T Brennan (0-3), K Killeen (0-1), G McGowan. Sub: C White for Clancy.

Mayo: P Burke; K Mortimer, K Cahill, A Higgins; D Higgins, B Ruane, S Rochford; P Fallon, R Hannick; C McManamon (0-2), A O'Malley, K O'Neill; D Nestor, T Mortimer, S Carolan (0-2). Subs: K McDonald (0-3) for Nestor, J Gill for O'Neill, J Nallen for Rochford.

Referee: M Curley (Galway).