A goal five minutes from time from wing back Colm Boyle helped Sligo IT overcome the Garda Training College at Templemore yesterday afternoon.

A tough, uncompromising game was marred by a major flare-up at the end, which involved 20 players. Quite a number were fortunate the referee, Eamonn Whelan, did not issue red cards.

Garda made the running for much of this game. But they led by just 0-5 to 0-4 at the interval having played with a strong breeze, and it did not look a big-enough cushion. When Michael Doherty and Andy Moran levelled for Sligo within seven minutes of the resumption, the Garda side knew a real battle was on.

Sligo IT took the lead for the first time in the 22nd minute through a Jamie Murphy point, and when Boyle goaled with five to go, it was curtains for the home team. Try as they did, Garda could not break down the Sligo defence, which stood tall until the end.

SLIGO IT: P Durcan; B McWeeney, A O'Flynn, S McDermott; J Murphy (0-1), S Mulligan, C Boyle (1-0); B McElvanna, J McCarthy; J Davey, R O'Connor, T Parsons (0-1); M Doherty (0-2), A Moran (0-3), B Regan (0-2). Subs: A Costelloe (0-1) for J McCarthy, E Mulligan for R O'Connor.

GARDA TRAINING COLLEGE: D Clarke; N Keenan, C McGrath, E Talty; D Hickey, S Casey, G Dillon; M O'Shea (0-1), R Guinan (0-1); A Dermody, P O'Connor, D Glennon (0-1); S Kelly (0-3), J Keane (0-1), C Bane (0-1). Subs: E Coughlan (0-1) for P O'Connor, S Hickey for C Bane, S Buckley for S Hickey, A O'Donovan for S Buckley.

Referee: E Whelan (Limerick) .