Sligo Celebrate Third Title

Connacht SFC Final
Sligo 1-10
Galway 0-12

By Dermot Kavanagh

Those policy makers in Croke Park, those faceless men who strongly advise for the discontinuance of the provincial championship, would not have enjoyed the post match scenes at Roscommon on Sunday as Sligo celebrated only their third ever Connacht title.

Those success starved followers, men, women and children, the majority dressed out in black and white openly and unashamedly cried tears of joy as team captain Noel McGuire lifted the Nestor Cup in triumph.

The only surprise about Sligo's success on the day was that it was achieved by a solitary point. Over the 74 minutes of play, except for a brief period in the opening quarter, Sligo were by far the better team.

They opened brightly and then appeared to have lost their way somewhat as Galway began to open up Sligo's defense with menacing ease.

However once Sligo weathered that not particular storm there was no stopping them.

Despite Sligo's never say die approach one sensed that they needed some flash of inspiration to consolidate their authority on the game. In the 24 minute it came through the heart and genius of Sligo legend, Eamon O'Hara.

Following an impressive bout of forward play O'Hara ran onto a pass some 35 meters from goal.

Like a man inspired he lengthened the distance between himself and a plethora of pursuers before planting a rasper in the Galway net from all of 20 meters out.

It was a goal worthy to win an all Ireland final, but more importantly it proved to be the goal that won Sligo their provincial title leading by 1-7 to 0-9.

Sligo had to face the breeze and then expected Galway resurgence in the second half.

The first named element didn't appear to hinder Sligo and the second named never materialized.

Due to nerves or whatever Sligo were guilty of some woeful misses in the second half, but so also were Galway.

That they scored only three points in that period was tantamount to almost handing the game to Galway, but what was vital was that Galway also only scored a similar amount.

Thus Sligo's half time lead of one point was sufficient to see them through.

All the Sligo players and selectors were heroes but a special word of praise should be extended to their defense.

In addition to some inspiring defending the defense only conceded two scoreable frees to Galway despite being under severe pressure, particularly in the closing stages as Galway fought to save the game.

Sligo also had to play the final 20 minutes without O'Hara due to a knee injury.

For O'Hara who has ploughed a lone furrow for over 14 years at midfield for Sligo without reward, yesterday's result, and the pivotal part he played in it must have been beyond his wildest dreams.

For Peter Ford and his Galway superstars it was a nightmare.