Sligo 1-14 Offaly 1-12:A FINE attacking display saw Sligo retain their Division Three status for next season with a deserved win over Offaly in Tullamore yesterday.
Man of the match Stephen Coen, Mark Breheny and Adrian Marren were all in outstanding form in the Sligo attack, giving the Offaly defence a torrid time and scoring 1-13 of their final tally between them to leave Offaly facing Division Four football next season.
Only two points separated the sides at the end but it was still a deserved win and Sligo were the better side for long periods.
Offaly started well and were 0-3 to 0-2 ahead after 10 minutes but Sligo took control after that with a penalty goal from Adrian Marren giving them the initiative. They played some superb attacking football after this, kicking some fine points and they led by 1-10 to 0-6 at half time.
SLIGO:P Greene; N Ewing, J Martyn, R Donovan; C Harrison, M Quinn, J Davey; T Taylor, S McManus; C McGee (0-1, 45), A Costello, M Breheny (0-5, two frees); S Coen (0-4), P Hughes, A Marren (1-4, 1-0 pen, free). Subs: P McGovern for Davey (8m), N McGuire for Martyn (11m), B Egan for Hughes (41m), D Maye for McGee (61m), E Mulligan for Coen (72m).
OFFALY:A Mulhall; B Darby, E Rigney, S Pender; J Keane, J Moloney, D Kelly (0-1); B Connor, N Smith; G Guilfoyle, A McNamee, A Sullivan (0-2); B Allen (1-2, two frees), N Dunne (0-2), K Casey (0-2). Subs: N McNamee (0-1) for Kelly (H/t), A Keenaghan for A McNamee (52m), J Coughlan (0-2, one free) for Dunne (63m), M Brazil for Guilfoyle (63m).
Referee:D O'Mahoney (Tipperary)
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