Sligo 0-14 Waterford 1-8:Mark Breheny kicked seven points, five from placed balls, as Sligo battled to a hard-earned three-point win over Waterford in yesterday's game at Markievicz Park.

Sligo faced an uphill struggle after midfielder Eamonn O'Hara was red-carded in the 22nd minute after he was booked twice in a minute. Sligo held a slender one-point lead at that stage.

Philip Gallagher and Breheny put the home side a couple of points ahead before Brian Wall squared the match with three well-taken scores. What looked like a legitimate point by Michael Ahearne was flagged wide as half-time approached as Sligo led 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.

Substitute Liam Lawlor fisted to the net in the 45th minute and two points by Wayne Hennessy levelled matters, 0-11 to 1-8. But Breheny kept Sligo in the driving seat with a couple of frees.

SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donovan; B Kivlehan (0-3), P McGovern, J Martyn; E O'Hara, B Egan; M Breheny (0-7, five frees), M McNamara, P Gallagher (0-1); D Kelly, S Davey, K Sweeney (0-3). Subs: J McPartland for McNamara (13 mins), J Davey for Martyn (31 mins), K O'Neill for Gallagher (55 mins), T Taylor for McPartland (59 mins), B Curran for S Davey (73 mins).

WATERFORD: T Wall; S Briggs, J Seward, M O'Gorman; D Hickey, E Rockett, P Ogle; M Ahearne, J Hurney (0-1); B Wall (0-3, two frees), G Power (0-1), W Hennessy (0-2); L Ó Lionain (0-1), A Hubbard, J Ryan. Subs: G Hurney for J Hurney (half-time), L Lawlor (1-0) for Ryan (32 mins), E Walsh for Ogle (57 mins), B Cunningham for Hubbard (58 mins).

Referee: R Ó Domhnaill (Donegal).