Sport

Brave comeback keeps Sligo afloat

Sligo 1-16 Cavan 1-12 Cavan's hopes of appearing in the knock-out stages of the NFL for the second consecutive year disappeared…

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Mon Apr 07 2003 - 01:00

Sligo 1-16 Cavan 1-12 Cavan's hopes of appearing in the knock-out stages of the NFL for the second consecutive year disappeared at Breffni Park yesterday when Sligo produced an amazing comeback to turn what looked like defeat into an outstanding victory.

This game had many twists and turns but the end result was that Sligo have avoided relegation and Cavan lost the opportunity of a second consecutive appearance in the semi-finals.

It looked to be a stroll for Cavan in the early stages. They led 1-4 to nil after 17 minutes, Jason Reilly getting the goal. Sligo, however, gradually began to make an impact and points from Padraig Doohan, Paul Durcan, Paul Taylor and the freetaking accuracy of Dessie Sloyan narrowed the deficit to four points with four minutes of the first half remaining.

Then Gerry McGowan with a goal on 31 minutes gave Sligo a real boost as Dermot McCabe's accurate freetaking kept Cavan in front at half time by 1-8 to 1-6.

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Sligo were a rejuvenated side in the second half and when the Cavan defence persistently fouled, Dessie Sloyan converted the frees, and it was 1-9 apiece after 13 minutes.

Cavan looked to have weathered the storm when points from Dermot McCabe and newcomer Patrick Brady gave them a two-point lead. But Sligo's motivation and hunger were much more pronounced and they were level again with 15 minutes left.

Sligo made the vital breakthrough with seven minutes left when Eamonn O'Hara put them into the lead for the first time and Paul Taylor added another point.

As the tension increased, Cavan's half back Anthony Forde received a red card with three minutes of normal time left and Cavan could do little to stem the tide as Noel McGuire and Paul Taylor completed the scoring during a period when referee Michael Curley had a busy time maintaining order.

SLIGO: P Walsh; P Gallagher, N Carew, B Philips; N McGuire (0-1), N Clancy, P Doohan (0-2); P Durcan (0-1), E O'Hara (0-1); J McPartland (0-1), M Brehony, M McNamara; D Sloyan (0-7), P Taylor (0-3), G McGowan (1-0). Sub: D Durcan for N Clancy.

CAVAN: A Donoghue; C Collins, T Prior, J Jordan; A Forde, P Brady, M McKeever; D McCabe (0-8), P McKenna; P Galligan, L Reilly (0-3), P Brady (0-1); J Reilly (1-0), M Graham, J Clarke. Subs: S Maguire for J Clarke, D Prior for P Galligan, B McGahon for P Brady.

Referee: M Curley (Galway).