Coolera/Strandhill ... 0-9 Eastern Harps ... 0-9 Coolera/Strandhill came within a whisker of winning their first Sligo senior football championship in 95 years in this gripping game at Markievicz Park yesterday.

The seasiders, parading half a dozen county players, had the edge over battling Eastern Harps for most of the match.

A couple of late Harps points earned them another shot at the same venue on Saturday next.

County star John McPartland had a chance to win the game three minutes into stoppage time, but his free, taken from the hand from near the halfway line, dropped wide of the Harps goal.

Some erratic shooting by the Coolera/Strandhill forwards particularly at the start of the first half didn't help their chances.

Stephen Carty opened their scoring in the fourth minute, but it took Harps 10 minutes to open their account through Michael Doddy.

Substitute Karl Gilligan was almost in for a Coolera/Strandhill goal after 32 minutes of the first half as the seasiders battled back after going 15 minutes without scoring. Eastern Harps led 0-6 to 0-5 at half-time.

James Joyce put Coolara/Strandhill two ahead eight minutes from time, but points by Sean Darrian and Shane Gallagher rescued the Harps.

COOLERA/STRANDHILL: J Cullen; R Doyle, N Carew (0-1), K Cooney; T Waters, J McPartland (0-1), S O'Neill; C O'Meara, K Quinn (0-3); S Carty (0-1), K O'Neill, B Doyle; C Mullen, J Joyce (0-1), T McMahon. Subs: K Gilligan (0-1) for O'Meara (21 mins); L Healy (0-1) for Mullen (half-time); P Hegarty for McMahon (59 mins).

EASTERN HARPS: P Walsh; F Candon, K Phillips, M Cosgrove; P McGovern, B Phillips, F Sexton; P Grady, M McCormack; M Doddy (0-1), K Carty (0-2), P Henry; S Gallagher (0-2), P Taylor (0-1), S Darrian (0-3). Subs: R Donovan for McCormack (43 mins); J Bruen for Henry.

Referee: M Duffy (Enniscrone)