GAA: ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION TWO: Laois1-14 Sligo 2-8MICHAEL JOHN Tierney scored a couple of crucial points in the closing 10 minutes to edge Laois over the line in this lacklustre Division Two game at Markievicz Park yesterday.
The Parnells club man, who finished with five points, put Laois a point in front in the 55th minute and gave them a two-point lead after Sligo’s top marksman Adrian Marren brought his side to within a point of the visitors.
Laois took a long time to settle in the first half but the home side failed to take advantage shooting five wides during the opening 10 minutes. Adrian Marren opened the scoring with a Sligo point in the 12th minute before Laois raised their first flag with a Gary Kavanagh point on 14 minutes.
Sligo took a firm grip on the game in the 29th minute when Alan Costello scored from the penalty spot after Eamonn O’Hara was brought down.
But Sligo’s good work was undone in stoppage time when Brendan Quigley blasted the ball to Philip Greene’s net to level the scores, 1-5 apiece, at half-time.
Adrian Marren put Sligo two points ahead with a goal after seven minutes of the second half but Sligo began to loose their grip on the game at that stage as Laois put some good moves together.
Laois substitute Niall Donoher levelled the scores in the 49th minute but Marren kept the home side in the hunt from frees.
Laois finished the match strongly however, as Sligo were left to rue their missed chances at the start of the first half.
Sligo have failed to collect a single point in any of their three home games and they now face a survival battle alongside Meath and Antrim.
Laois manager Justin McNulty had lots of praise for the commitment and superb effort shown by his players, particularly in the second half. “When the game was in the melting pot the players stood up and worked their socks off. The goals we gave away were not great and were more due to defensive errors.”
McNulty said the league was a preparation for the all-important action in the forthcoming championship.
Sligo manager Kevin Walsh was hugely disappointed with the result. “The wides at the start were a killer blow and we switched off before half-time allowing them in for a goal. We were under pressure and the missed chances were unforgivable” he said.
LAOIS: D Maher; D Booth, K Meaney, M Timmons; D Strong (0-2), S Julian, P O'Leary; P Clancy, B Quigley (1-0); C Begley (0-2), J O'Loughlin (0-2), G Kavanagh (0-1); R Munnelly (0-1), B Sheehan, MJ Tierney (0-5, 0-2 frees). Subs: N Donoher (0-1) for Kavanagh (47 mins); D Carroll for Munnelly (62 mins); C Lillis for Clancy (71 mins).
SLIGO: P Greene; C Harrison, N Ewing, R Donovan; D Rooney, P McGovern, K Cawley; T Taylor, S Gilmartin; B Curran, M Breheny, S Davey (0-1); A Marren (1-4, 0-2 frees), E O'Hara (0-1), A Costello (1-2). Subs: D Maye for Breheny (50 mins); S Coen for Curran (62 mins); K Sweeney for Costello (66 mins); B Egan for Davey (69 mins).
Referee: B Cassidy (Derry).
