Sligo Push Tyrone All The Way

Saturday 23.03.2019

County

Sligo minors made the long run to Pomeroy on Saturday and gave Tyrone as tough an examination as they have faced on the football field this year.

Following what has been a difficult week for many of these young lads Tyrone looked as if they had other things on their minds from the off.

The Westerners played into the breeze in the opening period and with Ciaran Mc Keown, Gavin Duffy, Mark Connolly Mc Gowan, Joseph Keaney and Eoghan Smith to the fore they dominated the play and reached the break leading 0-4 to 0-3. Dylan Walsh, Eoghan Smith, Joseph Keaney and Gavin Duffy were the men on target for Sligo in that first period.

Tyrone looked all at sea in the opening half but improved after the break. Substitute Mark Devlin tied the game at four apiece before a brace of Smith points put the Yeats County two up. Sligo were profligate in the extreme during the second period hitting nine wides in total.

Red Hands manager Collie Holmes rang the changes with Shea Browne and Daniel Fullerton introduced. However a further double from Smith and another point from Mark Devlin saw Sligo lead by three with ten minutes left.

Tyrone introduced Michael Mc Gleenan for the black carded full forward Duffy. The Eglish man was involved in the move that led to Ethan Neill’s fine goal that drew the sides level with five minutes left. In the next attack Shea Browne put his team into the lead for the first time in the game with a fine score and suddenly a previously rudderless Tyrone looked capable of winning.

Sensing that they were facing defeat Sligo pushed forward at every opportunity. A point from the very effective Smith did level the game two minutes into injury time but Tyrone sealed the win when substitute Daniel Fullerton converted a fine score after he drove at the Sligo defence and created the chance.

The visitors still had time to snatch a draw but fatigue and difficult conditions meant that Tyrone held on for what was a fortuitous win over a very good Sligo side.