Sligo on course to defend title

Holders Sligo Rovers beat Ulster Senior League side Fanad United 3-1 at Traig-A-Locha last night.

Sligo took 33 minutes to break down Fanad with Steve Jones racing through from midfield to score. Jones then provided the cross for Mark Hutchinson to shoot home the second a minute before the break.

Youth international Sean Flannery sealed Sligo's win with their third goal on 55 minutes when finishing off a cross from Padraig Moran. Paul Lynch headed Fanad consolation six minutes from the end.

Longford Town's progress under new, young manager, Stephen Kenny, continued as they came from behind to beat Monaghan United 2-1 at Strokestown Road.

James Callaghan put Monaghan ahead with a deflected shot after 25 minutes. Longford equalised through Alan Merriman seconds before half-time with Chris Malone scoring the winner seven minutes from the end.

In Group C, Paul McGee scored twice, the second a penalty, inside three minutes to give Athlone Town a 2-0 lead against Limerick FC at St Mel's Park.

Limerick rallied well, though, and Paddy Doyle got them back into the game on 32 minutes when heading home a Derek O'Neill cross. Howie King then snatched a point with a last minute penalty.

Diego Maradona could make yet another soccer comeback, this time for Spanish second division side Badajoz, club officials said yesterday. Two months short of his 38th birthday, Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning captain is expected to play in a friendly next month - and has been offered a contract for a longer-term spell in Spain.

Maradona's manager had earlier hinted that the Argentinian was likely to use his time at Badajoz as a springboard for a longer-term comeback.