NFL Div 3 Sligo 0-19 Antrim 1-11:FOR THE second successive year, Sligo concluded their spring football in celebration after a victory over Antrim when they triumphed in Saturday evening's NFL Division Three decider in Croke Park.
Sligo produced some spellbinding football to deservedly take the honours, with their prowess best exemplified by the 17 points they registered from play.
Sligo produced a fine attacking display, with Mark Breheny, Colm McGee and David Kelly all to the fore, while substitute Stephen Coen produced a memorable cameo with a three -point haul in the closing stages.
Defenders Ross Donovan and Johnny Davey also excelled, while midfielder Stephen Gilmartin was the man of the match.
"The most pleasing thing was we played some good football", said Sligo boss Kevin Walsh. "The pressure was off both teams as we had promotion but it was still great to see the lads doing so well in Croke Park and getting a national title. The score we put up from play was a testament to the lads."
Antrim competed well in the first-half to be tied at 0-5 apiece by the 30th minute and they possessed one of the game's standout players in their freescoring corner-forward Paddy Cunningham. But Sligo finished the half strongly with points from Kelly, McGee, Gilmartin and Alan Costello to lead 0-9 to 0-5 at the break.
Antrim tried to rally in the second-half, trimming the gap to 0-10 to 0-9 by the 47th minute. They were two points adrift when Michael McCann barged forward for a well-taken goal in the 59th minute. However, Sligo's response was exemplary in both cases and they outscored Antrim five points to two in the closing 10 minutes. Coen looked especially sharp when coming off the bench and stalwart Eamonn O'Hara also made his presence felt.
"Basically we were beaten by a far better team," said Antrim manager Liam Bradley. "Defensively we were very poor, in midfield we were cleaned out and up front Paddy Cunningham was the only one up for the fight. Sligo seemed a lot sharper and fitter."
SLIGO:P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donovan; K Cawley, M Quinn, J Davey; T Taylor, S Gilmartin (0-3); A Costello (0-1), M Breheny (0-4, one free), F Quinn; C McGee (0-5, one free), K Sweeney (0-1), D Kelly (0-2). Subs:E O'Hara for F Quinn (45), S Coen (0-3) for Sweeney (56).
ANTRIM:J Finucane; C Brady, A McLean, K O'Boyle; T Scullion, J Crozier, S Kelly; M McCann (1-0), B Herron; T O'Neill, CJ McGourty (0-1), J Loughery; P Cunningham (0-6, three frees), M Magill, T McCann (0-1). Subs:A Gallagher (0-1) for Herron (inj) (15), G O'Boyle (0-1) for Magill (39), K Close (0-1) for O'Neill (54), P Doherty for Kelly (58), A Douglas for McLean (64).
Referee:Maurice Condon (Waterford)
