Coolera-Strandhill defeated St Molaise Gaels in the Sligo SFC Final Replay at Markievicz Park. Photo by Sligo GAA
Sligo SFC Final Replay
Coolera-Strandhill 0-8 St Molaise Gaels 0-7
By Liam Maloney at Markievicz Park
Coolera-Strandhill are back-to-back champions for the first time following their dogged one-point win over St Molaise Gaels in a low-scoring yet intense Sligo SFC final replay at Markievicz Park.
Winning captain Peter Laffey played his part - he supplied two vital points in the last 10 minutes and was named Player of the Match - as Coolera-Strandhill secured a fourth-ever Owen B Hunt Cup.
Compared to the previous Sunday, weather conditions were much improved for this rematch.
St Molaise Gaels, who had the opportunity to win it the first day with a free deep into second-half stoppage time, had county player Luke Towey back in their squa, but not their starting team - he came off in the first-half of the drawn game with an injury.
Holders Coolera-Strandhill were again looking to talisman Niall Murphy - the competition’s leading scorer bagged 0-5 in the stalemate and came into this game with 3-38 from six appearances.
St Molaise Gaels were relying on their top shooter, Alan McLoughlin, who had amassed 1-33 to date in this campaign.
Coolera-Strandhill took charge early on and points from two defenders, Oran Harte and Ross O’Carroll, got them off the mark.
Last year’s champions were dominating possession even if they weren’t showing it on the scoreboard.
They relied on goalkeeper Keelan Harte for a wonderful 12th minute save to deny St Molaise Gaels a certain goal - Gerard Brady had the shot.
It was a Brady point that brought the opening score for St Molaise Gaels after 16 minutes - a well-taken point - but the north Sligo outfit, seeking the club’s first-ever title at this level, were undermined by several point attempts that dropped short.
Coolera-Strandhill continued to exude the greater efficiency and they finished the low-scoring first-half two points up, 0-5 to 0-3, as Mark McDaniel kicked a good point and there was also a brace from Niall Murphy, who landed a mighty point from play.
Two pointed frees from Alan McLoughlin kept St Molaise Gaels in the mix but they still weren’t firing.
That all changed early in the second-half when St Molaise took over to shoot out three points on the bounce.
This hat-trick of points from Alan McLoughlin, who converted two frees and landed a brilliant point from play, put St Molaise Gaels in front for the first time, 0-6 to 0-5.
But St Molaise Gaels failed to score again until the fourth minute of stoppage time. In between they were guilty of too many turnovers and were unable to really break down a well-organised Coolera-Strandhill.
The holders showed greater efficiency and three points without reply got them back in control. Niall Murphy converted a free midway through the second-half to level matters, 0-6 apiece, and then Peter Laffey twice found the target impressively from play to extend Coolera-Strandhill’s lead to two points, 0-8 to 0-6.
St Molaise Gaels saw more of the ball in the closing stages and increased the pressure on their opponents, but they only managed one more point, a converted ‘45’ from Alan McLoughlin, who scored in the fourth minute of additional time.
Scorers for Coolera–Strandhill: Niall Murphy 0-3 (2fs), Peter Laffey 0-2, Mark McDaniel 0-1, Oran Harte 0-1, Ross O’Carroll 0-1
Scorers for St Molaise Gaels: Alan McLoughlin 0-6 (4fs, 1 ‘45), Gerard Brady 0-1
Coolera–Strandhill: Keelan Harte; Sean Murphy, Sean Taylor, Conor McDonagh; Leo Doherty, Ross O’Carroll, Oran Harte; Kevin Banks, Peter Laffey (c); Keelan Cawley, Mark McDaniel, Ross Doherty; Luke Bree, Niall Murphy, Barry O’Mahony
Subs: Adam Higgins for Luke Bree, 49; Conor Burke for Leo Doherty, 49.
St Molaise Gaels: Niall McLoughlin; Liam Kennedy, Luke Casserly, Robbie Ryan; Paddy McGowan, Evan Farrell, Jamie McLoughlin; Joseph Keaney, Alan McLoughlin (c); Keelan Waters, Jack Davitt, Oisin Gilmartin; Aaron Currid, Gerard Brady, Cathal Herron
Subs: Eoin McHugh for Jamie McLoughlin, 44; Marc Heraghty for Keelan Waters, 49; Michael Langan for Oisin Gilmartin, 53; John Kerins for Aaron Currid, 59.
Referee: John Gilmartin.
