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NYGAA: Cork outduel Sligo in thrilling debut

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Both teams were well prepared for the first match of the SFB Championship, complete with large panels ready to compete for two valuable points.
A fine Mike Creegan point started things in Sligo’s favor, but Cork stormed back with 0-3 on the trot. Tadgh Foley claimed the first two. The second came after a great catch from midfielder Tadgh Healy, who combined with Sean Healy to spring Foley.
Enda Henry’s free kept Sligo in touch, but Cork were getting the better of the play, led by midfield pair Tadgh and Sean Healey. An Edmund Cleary free for Cork was answered by Sligo’s Mike Ramsbottom.
With Cork leading 0-5 to 0-3, full forward Eoin Coveney struck for the first of his and Cork’s two goals. Center forward Tadgh Collins climbed high to field Enda Lally’s clearance, and when his long shot dropped in, the Sligo square Coveney was quick to pounce on the half chance.
After Sean Healy extended Cork’s advantage, Sligo fought back with the last three scores of the half. Another Henry free started it before Ramsbottom’s perfectly struck penalty and Creegan’s point closed out the half.
Keeper Robbie O’Neal kept it close for the Connaght side when he denied Coveney just after Ramsbottom’s penalty and the sides were separated by the minimum 1-6 to 1-5 for Cork at the break.
Cork started strong when play resumed but were having trouble locating the goal posts. Tadgh Collins finally hit the target with a great long-range score with just over five minutes gone.
Ramsbottom was quick to respond with a Sligo point, and then Cork took a hit when wingback Tim O’Sullivan had to be helped off the pitch, the victim of a rough, awkward tackle. Cork continued to have the better of the play, but poor marksmanship threatened to be their undoing.
Then Sligo rubbed it in, converting a rare opportunity for a point. Enda Henry, who was kept well in check by Enda Lally, finished a direct Sligo attack after passes from Tomas Maher and Declan Coyne and the scores were level with 15 minutes still left to play.
When Sligo edged in front via a Matt Kilroy free, Cork’s earlier inaccuracy was looking costly. Then Cork bounced back. Tadgh Healy and Foley combined when the big midfielder caught well and placed Foley who took his point well.
Tadgh Healy skipped the middleman for Cork’s next point, fielding a Sligo kickout and banging over the go ahead point for the Rebels. Now that Cork had relocated the Sligo goal posts there was no stopping them. Points from Coveney and Sean Healy bracketed Coveney’s second goal and Cork put the match beyond Sligo’s reach.
Man of the Match: Eoin Coveney
Cork: Brian McGonigle, Seamus Foley, Pat Harrington, Con Breen, Liam Hanly, Enda Lally, Tim O’Sullivan, Tadgh Healy (0-1), Sean Healy (0-2), Steven O’Shea, Tadgh Collins (0-1), Tadgh Foley (0-3), Ed Cleary (0-1, free), Eoin Coveney (2-2), Gareth Moan (0-1).
Sligo: Robbie O’Neal, Pat Brosnan, Kevin Caffrey, Eammon Duffy, Tomas Maher, James Walsh, Declan Coyne, Cormac McCarthy, Ciaran Quinn, Mike Ramsbottom (1-2, 1 penalty), Enda Henry (0-3, 2 frees), Mike McKenna, Cormac Murray, Matt Kilroy (0-1, free), Mike Creegan (0-3).

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