Football Roundup Sligo miss berth in semifinals

By Mark Jones

DUBLIN — As Kerry, Meath, Roscommon and Derry were celebrating places in the semifinals of the National Football League last weekend, Sligo were left to contemplate a far less glamorous fate. Chasing a semifinal spot for the first time since 1974, the Connacht county was deprived only by the vagaries of scoring average.

Meath finished with an average of 1.021, while Sligo’s 1-10 to 1-7 loss to Clare left them with an average of 1.012. If Jody Devine hadn’t kicked a late point in Meath’s 2-12 to 0-11 victory over Kildare, then Sligo would have qualified. It was that tight.

Still, Sligo manager Mickey Moran wasn’t looking for excuses after his team’s disappointing performance in Ennis. A goal by Dessie Sloyane in the second minute turned out to be Sligo’s only score of the first half and then

just as the interval approached, Ken Killeen was sent off for a second bookable offense.

"We were a disgrace, pathetic," Moran said. "I never thought a team I was involved with would lie down like that. It was our worst performance of the season, we went back to the old bad habits. Sligo don’t deserve to be going to the semifinals."

Clare, battling to stave off relegation, quickly set about responding to Sloyane’s early goal as Ger Keane and Martin Daly picked off points at regular intervals. Ten minutes from the end, Sligo’s bad day was complete when Daly fired home a goal to make it 1-10 to 1-3.

Elsewhere in Division 1B, Sligo’s self-destruction turned out to be a bonus for Meath as they qualified for the last four and consigned Kildare to relegation. Kildare battled bravely but their efforts to remain in top flight were undermined by two second-half goals by Ollie Murphy and Donal Curtis.

Meath had come into the game two points adrift of both Sligo and Fermanagh, but with their rivals losing, it was down to scoring average and little did the Meath supporters realize at the time that Devine’s late score, which had no bearing on the actual result, would be enough to send them through to the knockout stages where Kerry will provide the opposition.

Fermanagh’s outside chance of a semifinal spot was quickly crushed as Derry strolled to a 2-15 to 0-10 success at Celtic Park. Inspired by Anthony Tohill, who was in imperious form, Derry set up a last-four clash with Roscommon.

Tohill scored 1-3 and manager Eamonn Coleman later described his midfielder as "the best in the country without doubt," while Fergal McCusker bagged his team’s second goal and Ronan Rocks added four points.

Mayo clung on to their Division 1 status with a 2-9 to 1-7 victory over Down in Ballina. Down were never really in the hunt and will drop down to the second division for next season.

Division 1A

Scoring average were also the buzz words in Division 1A, where Kerry and Roscommon sealed their places in the semifinals. Kerry were already through to the last four, so the Kingdom’s 2-9 to 1-8 loss to Galway at Tralee mattered little to both counties.

However, Roscommon’s 0-14 to 1-9 triumph over Donegal at Hyde Park left them on the same points total as Dublin, who beat Cork 2-10 to 1-11 at Parnell Park. When the calculators cooled down, Roscommon had the edge with an average of 1.127 to Dublin’s 1.020.

Derek Duggan was one of only two Roscommon players who appeared in the county’s last League semifinal back in 1991 and this time he played a major part in the battling victory with four pointed frees. But there was a tense end to the game after an Adrian Sweeney penalty had put Donegal level midway through the second half.

Derek Thompson made vital saves from Brian Roper and Tony Boyle, while Frankie Dolan and Eddie Lohan kicked points for the winners.

"Donegal didn’t surprise us by playing championship-pace football," manager Gay Sheerin said, "but we picked up after a shaky first half and never let go."

Dublin, meanwhile, gained no satisfaction when their victory relegated Cork. Roscommon’s success meant there was nothing to celebrate despite Dublin’s strong finish and a fine individual display by Ciaran Whelan. The midfielder fired home a goal and Ian Robertson contributed 1-4.

Armagh were already relegated going into their game against Tyrone by a 0-13 to 1-8 victory at Dungannon served as a confidence booster before the defense of their provincial title.

Division 2A

In Division 2A, Offaly preserved their 100 percent record and secured promotion to the top division with a 4-13 to 1-7 victory over London. Louth also booked a promotion spot by beating Leitrim 2-14 to 2-8 at Carrick-on-Shannon, while Wicklow finished in third place thanks to a 2-9 to 1-8 success against Limerick.

Division 2B

Longford needed only a draw to move up from Division 2B, but there was no mercy from already promoted Laois, who took the honors at Pearse Park by 1-16 to 0-12. Cavan took advantage to book the second promotion place with a decisive 4-15 to 0-10 victory over Wexford.