Gaelic Games

Down strike at the death to secure Sligo smash and grab

Caolan Mooney’s goal in the fifth minute of injury-time earns his side the two points

Caolan Mooney’s late goal gave Down victory over Sligo. Photograph: Oisin Keniry/Inpho

Sun Feb 3 2019 - 17:10

Sligo 1-10 Down 1-12

Down secured their first points of the campaign thanks to a smash and grab defeat of Sligo at a wet Connolly Park.

Livewire Caolan Mooney’s goal in the fifth minute of added time gave Paddy Tally’s side a dramatic two-point win, when it seemed that the hosts would hold on for their first victory despite losing their top scorer, Pat Hughes, to a 68th minute red card.

The hosts, who improved from their opening round loss away to Carlow, led 1-2 to 0-0 by the fifth minute with their goal coming from Pat Hughes, who punished Down’s defence after taking an advanced mark.

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Down, who were boosted by the introduction of Ryan Johnston and Donal O’Hare, were just two points down at the break, 1-5 to 0-6, even though Sligo had the better of the first-half.

The winners were more of an attacking force during an even second-half and match-winner Mooney also notched 0-2.

Sligo: A Devaney (0-1, 1f); N Mullen, P Laffey, JF Carr; L Nicholson, P McNamara, G O'Kelly-Lynch; P Kilcoyne, A McIntyre; L Gaughan (0-2), P O'Connor, S Carrabine (0-2, 1f); A Marren, P Hughes (1-2, 2f), N Murphy (0-3, 2f). Subs: C Henry for L Nicholson (53), A McLoughlin for P Kilcoyne (57), B McGowan for P O'Connor (69)

Down: R Burns; D O'Hagan, S Murnin, G Collins; S Fegan, C Flanagan, C Mooney (1-2); L Devlin, J Flynn; C Francis, C Poland, K McKernan; J Johnston (0-1, 1f), P Havern (0-1), P Devlin (0-2, 2f). Subs: R Johnston (0-2) for S Murnin (15), D O'Hare (0-4, 2f) for J Johnston (27), D McCarthy for L Devlin (h-t), C Harrison for P Havern (50), B O'Hagan for P Devlin (54)

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