Paul Seevers powered Tubbercurry to their third consecutive Sligo senior hurling championship title with a personal tally of 1-7 in a nail-biting decider at Markievicz Park yesterday.

A couple of good points by Seevers in the opening minutes of the first half settled the south Sligo side, but former Kerry club man Billy Brick struck for a Naomh Eoin goal to level the scores after 10 minutes. A goal by Seevers from a longrange free in the 15th minute put Tubbercurry four points in front, but Naomh Eoin refused to lie down and an opportunist goal from Harry Phelan brought the Sligo town team back into the game. Tubbercurry led 1-8 to 2-2 at half-time.

Naomh Eoin opened the second-half scoring with a Pat Hickey point after three minutes and it was all to play for when Adrian O'Flanagan blasted the ball to the Tubbercurry net to level the scores. The town side wasted a number of scoring chances in the final quarter. The champions finished the game the stronger, with Seevers clinching victory with two late points.

Tragedy has struck the Tyrone minor football team for the second time. A brother of one of the side's star players was killed in a weekend road accident as he travelled to a football match. Paul Hughes (22) died after the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on the main Dungannon to Ballygawley Road on Saturday evening. His younger brother, Kevin, plays midfield on the Tyrone minor team which is due to meet Kerry in an All-Ireland semi-final replay next weekend.

Earlier this year the GAA world was stunned after Tyrone player Paul McGirr died after being involved in an accidental collision with an opponent during a championship game against Armagh.