Proud Leitrim stun Sligo

by Oli Skehan , 22 May 2011

Leitrim came away with the spoils at Markievicz Park on Sunday as they stunned much-fancied Sligo in the quarter-final of the Connacht SFC.


Conor Beirne's second-half goal gave Mickey Moran's men, who were winning in their province for the first time since 2008, a 1-10 to 0-10 victory after they deservedly led 0-8 to 0-5 at the break.

The visitors hit the ground running and led by two points with three minutes in thanks to points from Paul Brennan and Emlyn Mulligan.

Sligo got on the scoresheet three minutes later when championship rookie Francis Quinn pointed for the Yeats County men.

Leitrim then enjoyed a dominant spell with Brennan and wing-back Wayne McKeon clipping over a couple of points as the men in green moved three points ahead.

Beirne registered his second pointed free with 30 minutes played and Adrian Croal concluded the Leitrim scoring two minutes before the break.

Sligo came out strongly after the interval and were on level terms with 55 minutes played - Mark Breheny leading the Sligo fightback.

However, three minutes later Beirne fired to the net via the post to give Leitrim a 1-9 to 0-8 advantage.

Stephen Coen replied with a point for the home side, who then had centre-back Brian Curran sent off before Mulligan - playing his first championship match in three years - made it a four-point game with a converted free in injury-time.

There was late drama as both Mulligan and Sligo talisman Eamonn O'Hara saw red but Leitrim were not to be denied.

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