Tailteann Cup Round 1

SLIGO 3-15, LONDON 2-16 (After extra-time)

By Liam Maloney at Markievicz Park

A relieved Sligo progressed to the quarter-finals of the Tailteann Cup after a titanic extra-time battle with London at Markievicz Park.

Alan Reilly, Sligo’s best forward, kicked the equalising score that levelled matters in the sixth minute of stoppage time at the end of normal time.

Substitute Brian Egan’s goal proved vital for Sligo in the first period of extra-time but just as important for Sligo was goalkeeper Aidan Devaney’s save of London substitute Christopher Farley’s spot-kick.

Both Sligo and London were embracing the possibilities of the inaugural Tailteann Cup, with Sligo boss Tony McEntee wary of his charges being deemed favourites on account of an 18-point defeat of London in March's Allianz Football League Division Four fixture.

Sligo also had the edge over London in four of their last five clashes in the Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship – with London's only win famously coming in 2013 when they ended up provincial finalists.

A boost for London was that Niall Murphy, Sligo’s attacking talisman, was only fit enough to be named on the bench.

But London’s own forward star, Liam Gavaghan, whose dad, Liam, is from Tourlestrane in south Sligo, didn’t start for the Exiles, who had two Sligo natives, James Hynes and Eoin Flanagan, in their line-up.

London were very much in this contest from the start and they got the game’s first score when James Gallagher pointed in the opening five minutes.

It was Gallagher’s excellent goal in the 14th minute – following Stephen Dornan’s industry – that served as a warning to Sligo.

Although the home side cancelled out this goal 60 seconds later with a three-pointer of their own when Alan Reilly stylishly found the net, Sligo were beginning to clock up the wides.

London were back in front by the 25th minute, 1-5 to 1-4, when Henry Walsh pointed.

Sligo then responded with a big score when Pat Hughes flicked the ball to the net from Paul Kilcoyne’s booming delivery into London’s goalmouth.

This goal appeared to have settled Sligo, with Pat Spillane then adding a point, but Sligo’s wastefulness – they hit 10 first-half wides – kept the door open for London, who were two points down at half-time, 2-6 to 1-7.

London’s James Gallagher bagged an excellent 1-3 in the opening period.

A superb 38th goal from Henry Walsh put London back in front, 2-7 to 2-6, but then matters became tit-for-tat, with neither side unable to seize control.

London were a point up, 2-10 to 2-9, as this brisk contest entered the last 10 minutes of normal time but they had to cope with a player less due to Ronan Sloan’s black card.

Sligo continued to miss chances, including a goal shot that Alan Reilly drilled wide.

The home side somehow clung on, even with Niall Murphy going off with an injury shortly after coming on, and Alan Reilly’s superb point in the sixth minute of stoppage time made it 2-11 apiece and extra-time ensued.

Midway through extra-time it was Sligo who had the advantage, 3-14 to 2-13, with substitute Brian Egan’s goal proving vital.

Then Aidan Devaney stepped up with a massive penalty save to deny London substitute Christopher Farley.

London had two players dismissed in the second period of extra-time – Eoin Flanagan and James Gallagher.

Sligo also had an unwanted statistic of 20 wides – compared to London’s two.

Scorers for Sligo: Alan Reilly 1-6, Patrick O’Connor 0-4 (1f), Pat Hughes 1-1, Aidan Devaney 0-1 (1 ‘45’), Pat Spillane 0-1, Sean Carrabine 0-1 (1f), Brian Egan 1-0, Donal Conlon 0-1

Scorers for London: James Gallagher 1-3, Ferghal McMahon 0-4 (4f), Matthew Walsh 1-1, Sean Hickey 0-2, James Hynes 0-1, Conal Gallagher 0-1, Liam Gavaghan 0-1 (1f), Christopher Farley 0-1 (1f)

Sligo: Aidan Devaney; Nathan Mullen, Evan Lyons, Paul McNamara; Mark Walsh, Darragh Cummins, Paul Kilcoyne; Pat Spillane, Sean Carrabine; Keelan Cawley, Patrick O’Connor, Mikey Gordon; Alan Reilly, Pat Hughes, Nathan Rooney

Subs: Luke Towey for Spillane 47, Donal Conlon for Rooney 57, Peter Laffey for Walsh 57, Niall Murphy for Hughes 69, Brian Egan for Murphy 70+6; Kenny Gavigan for Gordon 72; Conan Marren for O’Connor 80; Barry Gorman for Carrabine, 88

London: Noel Maher; Cahir Healy, Matt Moynihan, Nathan McElwaine; Ronan Sloan, Eoin Walsh, Eoin Flanagan; James Hynes, Stephen Dornan; Conal Gallagher, Christopher Duggan, Liam Gallagher; James Gallagher, Liam Gavaghan, Christopher Farley.

Subs: Liam Gavaghan for Walsh 55, Christopher Duggan for McMahon 57, Oladimeji Olajubu for McElwaine 66, Christopher Farley for Gallagher 70+4; James Gallagher for Dornan, 82; Henry Walsh for Gallagher, 89

Referee: Niall Cullen (Fermanagh).