February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Sligo 1-11
Tyrone 0-7 By Mike Fitzpatrick
Two clubs from Division A came head to head in this junior football battle at Gaelic Park with both teams needing the points for very different reasons.
Sligo, not completely out of contention for a play off position, badly needed both points to continue their run towards end of season contention.
Tyrone, however, are currently sitting at the bottom of the table with no points from five games played. A worrying situation, as they are now four points adrift of the three clubs immediately above them. Tyrone had already been defeated by Sligo earlier in the season, so were without doubt out to cause some damage to their rival’s hopes for promotion.
Kevin O’Neill, guesting for Sligo, truly made a difference as the game wore on. Sligo began on the upper hand, thanks to O’Neill’s early scoring, and added to efforts from Tony Gallagher and Peadar Reynolds, they were well on course for victory.
Never miss an issue of The Irish Echo
Subscribe to one of our great value packages.
Tyrone, the new boys in this division, fought hard, and did manage to grab a few scores from Sean McDermott, Justin Murray and Peter Devlin to add more respectability to the tie, but unfortunately for the Ulster lads it was not enough.
Sligo ran out winners by a seven point margin, a victory they hope will go a long way to ensuring their play off position.
Sligo: John Cronnelly, Fergus Durkan, Pat Spellman, Mike Gilligan, Ken Barry, Ciaran Kelly, Eamon Duffy, John Higgins, Sean Washington, Alan Barry (0-1), Kevin O’Neill (0-7), Barney Healy, John McVann, Peadar Reynolds (0-3), Tony Gallagher (1-0). Subs: Dean O’Connor, Ray Reynolds, Damian Sheehan
Tyrone: Shane Gallagher, Brian Glavey, Steve Nixon, Darren Duffin, Marty McKiernan, Declan Cooney, Ronan McAleer, Ray Higney, Adrian Fox (0-1), Peter Devlin (0-2), Justin Murray (0-2), Francis Campbell, Declan Colton, Brian McGarrity, Sean McDermott (0-2). Sub: Paul McDermott