THERE ARE few occasions in Sligo footballing history which can set the pulses racing. Yet yesterday's win over Roscommon at Markievicz Park will live among them not because a new dawn crept across the horizon but because a significant victory was achieved with a very young team as a result of which the future looks much brighter.

If better days are ahead then much of the credit should go to Mickey Moran from Derry who has injected a wonderful team spirit into his charges, which was greatly in evidence during yesterday's stirring, if less than inspirational, Connacht championship semi final.

Crucial to this victory was a period just at the beginning of the match. Roscommon had won the toss and taken advantage of the wind but that did not seem to worry Sligo. They flew into the fray with such spirit that Roscommon seemed mesmerised and Sligo's first unanswered three points was merely a way of waking them up.

Roscommon then went about their business with much more proficiency and were able to build up a lead of 0-9 to 0-3 by the 26th minute. If Roscommon felt at that stage that the initiative had been wrested from Sligo they could have been excused,

However, there could be no excuse for the complacency which followed and Sligo managed to reach the halftime break just five points adrift, which in the conditions did not seem at that stage.

It was not a bad situation given that the strong breeze blowing from the town end was to be in Sligo's favour in the second half.

Few could have envisaged what was to follow. A full half hour elapsed in the second half before Roscommon could manage their next score. In the interim Sligo chipped away at Roscommon's perceived superiority and by the 22nd minute they were on level terms.

Not even that situation could inspire a sluggish Roscommon. But even worse was to follow. Not for the first time in the match, Roscommon goalkeeper Shane Curran had a rush of blood to the head. In a confused situation with at least two of his fellow defenders, possession was given away and the Sligo right corner forward Dessie Sloyane stroked the ball soccer style, to the net.

This was partly responsible for changing Sligo's five point deficit at the break into a four point lead.

However, Roscommon had ample opportunity to enhance that half time superiority. But they squandered their chances with a series of wides and the chief culprits were Derek Duggan. Luke Dolan, Alan Nolan and Don Connellan. All failed to make the most of gilt edged opportunities and Roscommon managed to clock up 15 wides in the second half to match their failures of the first.

In fairness to Sligo, it must be admitted that several marginal decisions by the referee, Seamus Prior from Leitrim, seemed to go Roscommon's way.

Sligo will, savour this famous victory and they have six weeks to prepare for the Connacht final in which they will play provincial title holders Mayo or Leitrim.

Nobody will begrudge them their victory. Spirit, resolve, determination and pride was shot through everything they did. They certainly put up a significant challenge to Roscommon in the opening to minutes of the match and that, as things worked out subsequently, was a crucial factor.

On a perfect pitch in windy but dry conditions the sides were always ready to contest the match with considerable vigour without going beyond the bounds of fair play. The Sligo forwards, notably Eamon O'Hara, Philip Neary and Paul Taylor, swept many Roscommon challenges aside and Neary and Taylor, from play and a free, gave Sligo a three point lead by the ninth minute.

This was a statement of intent given that they were playing against a steady breeze.

Roscommon rallied and were level by the 15th minute and they gradually gained control of the middle of the field through the efforts of Tom Ryan and Derek Duggan. However, the normally accurate Duggan was not having a good day with his scoring opportunities but Roscommon seemed comfortable enough with a lead of 0-10 to 0-5 at half time.

Sligo almost conceded a goal in the 25th minute when a shot from Niall O'Donoghue that was bound for the net was deflected over the bar by Neil Carew.

Sligo, with the wind from Benbulben in their backs, set about hauling the Roscommon lead down and they might have had a goal in the 14th minute of the second half when the Roscommon goalkeeper Shane Curran dashed recklessly from his position leaving his net unguarded. But Eamon O'Hara failed to make the most of the chance.

It was goalkeeper Curran, however, who gave Sligo their great opportunity in the 24th minute. They had taken the lead with a point by Dessie Sloyane and the same Easkey player was alert to the opportunity which arose when Neil Carew from Coolera surged through the Roscommon defence and set up the chance for Sloyane to slide the ball to the net.

Roscommon were now in real trouble but, to their credit, they raised their game. Sligo responded by packing their defence and few if any of their players were in their original positions when Tom Ryan, the Roscommon midfielder, drove home Roscommon's goal in the 69th minute to cut the lead to two points.

But Sligo remained calm and the last score was, appropriately, scored by Paul Taylor without any question the man of the match.