Sligo 8 – Monivea 23
Sligo’s impressive run of victories in the Connacht Junior 1 League was halted, when they were deservedly defeated by Monivea in Hamilton Park on Sunday last, although the final score-line certainly flattered the winners.
Played in wet conditions, in front of one of the biggest crowds seen at the venue for several years, the game was was keenly contested. Sligo’s cause received a set-back before the start when player-coach Gavin Foley tweaked his hamstring in the pre-match warm-up, and while he played for the entire game, his movement was clearly restricted. Within one minute of the start, Sligo suffered a severe blow when open side, Warner Wilder, one of his team’s stars on the previous week, limped off with a knee injury. Their problems had reached crisis point in the 28th minute when out-half and play-maker, Jordan Farrington was forced to hobble off with an ankle injury.
Wilders was badly missed at the breakdown, while the backs, lacking Farrington’s and Foley’s influence, never functioned with their usual fluency. Monivea’s inside centre, Ian Murphy was the man of the match, as he scored his side’s first try, and proved to be uncannily accurate with the boot, landing five kicks from five attempts. The winners only other score was try from out-half, Seamus Fahy.
Wing forward, Gary Conneally scored Sligo’s try, when the pack mauled over the Monivea line midway through the first half, to give his side a 5-3 lead. Gavin Foley landed a penalty for Sligo before the interval. Monivea led by 16-8 at the break. Sligo’s defence was at fault for Fahy’s try 8 minutes into the second half. To their credit, Sligo’s pack dominated from this point onwards, as they camped in their opponents’ territory. On two occasions they opted to kick for the corners, rather than the posts, and No.8, Peter Mullan surely deserved a penalty try, rather than a penalty when he was cynically taken out, as he followed his own chip through near the Monivea line in the closing stages.
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