CONNACHT SFC FIRST ROUND/Sligo 2-17 London 0-7: SLIGO PUT their recent poor NFL form behind them to inflict a heavy defeat on London at Ruislip yesterday. Playing with the benefit of a considerable breeze in the opening half, the visitors accumulated an unassailable 1-11 to 0-3 lead by half-time.

Sligo took early command of the game when debutant corner forward Gary Gaughan scored 1-1 within the opening three minutes.

However London's Chris Donellan finished off a neat three-man move for the Exiles' opening score before Gaughan's third minute goal. London enjoyed their best period when they held Sligo scoreless until a Martin Breheny free in the 16th minute.

In that same period Donellan had added another point from a free after six minutes before Paul Heir also kicked a point out of his hands after he had been fouled after eight minutes. London were forcing Sligo to foul and when Gary Kane was upended in the square, it looked as if the Exiles were set to make a match of it.

However Marty Hughes' blistering penalty to the goalkeeper's left was saved by Philip Greene. The Exiles' confidence seemed to evaporate from then until the end of the first half as the visitors piled on the scores through five Breheny frees and points from Vaughan, Dave and Kelly.

Breheny, set up by Gaughan, landed Sligo's second goal with five minutes remaining.

SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison, P Naughton, R Donavan; P McGovern, M McNamara, J Davey (0-2, frees); K Quinn, E OHara; B Curran (0-1), M Breheny (1-11, nine frees), B Egan; G Gaughan (1-2), E McHugh, D Kelly. Subs: S Gilmartin for Quinn, J McPartland for Gaughan, S Davey for McNamara.

LONDON: B McBrearty; R Morgan, C Beirne, A Raftery (0-1); O Henry, E OCuiv, N Spain; K Waldron, G Kane; P Geraghty, P Hehir (0-3, frees), F McMahon; S Maguire, M Hughes, C Donellan (0-3, two frees). Subs: P McDermott for Waldron, P Morgan for Morgan, A Dillane for Hughes, B Casey for Spain.

Referee: Cormac Reilly (Meath)