Sligo 0 – Westport 0

Luckless Sligo saw their 100% record lost in rare and disappointing circumstances when they were held to a scoreless draw at Carrowholly in Westport on Sunday. It is the first scoreless draw in JL1 this season, but does not reflect fairly on what was an entertaining, tense encounter if somewhat error-strewn. It was a game that Sligo dominated but a combination of heroic Westport defending and squandered opportunities saw them fail to win for the first time this season. Sligo were unchanged from the side that comprehensively defeated Corrib two weeks ago, with Tongan star Mataele Fifita continuing in the centres and club stalwart Gavin Foley at out-half. In their last encounter Westport produced a tremendous team performance to shock OLBC by 18-3 in Galway, and went into this game full of confidence. This was seen as the toughest test Sligo had faced so far this season, and so it proved as a dour Westport outfit along with awful weather conditions saw Sligo misfire.

Westport won the toss and a massive winding gusting straight down the pitch saw them elect to play with the wind in the first half and to take advantage of the long tactical kicking of their seasoned out-half Eddie Walsh. However it was Sligo who started the brighter with some early pressure in Westport territory. Sligo signalled their intentions early by kicking a penalty to the corner and from the lineout Sligo’s forward produced a big drive which was stopped just short of the Westport line. From the recycle Sligo knocked on, and Westport full utilised Walsh’s massive boot as he kicked them clear from the resulting scrum. Sligo’s pack got straight back to business and with the picking and driving game, that has served them so well in recent games, again to the fore made steady progress back down into Westport’s half. Again Sligo kicked a penalty to touch 22m and when Westport interfered at the lineout, Sligo had another penalty that was advanced 10m forward by the referee due to Westport’s backchat. Sligo kicked to the corner once more but again a mistake in the crucial phase saw Westport turn it over, and Walsh once more thump Sligo right back down the pitch.

The first half continued in the same vein with Sligo making the hard yards before an error or good defensive work from the homeside would allow Westport to clear. Midway through the half Sligo produced a good break from a scrum with scrum-half Leahy linking up with his back row of Sweeney and Mullan before being stopped 10m out. Sligo were awarded a scrum, and from this they went wide with Foley releasing Fifita who offloaded to tricky winger Brian Hynes who despite his best efforts was bundled into touch 5m short by the scrambling Westport defence. The closing stages of the half saw Walsh kick the Mayo men up the pitch and finally Westport had some phases of possession in Sligo’s half. Sligo’s defence was rock solid however and some aggressive defensive work saw them turn possession over and go in at half-time scoreless.

With the gusting wind at their backs Sligo were expected to start the second half strongly. However a series of poor decision-making and handling errors saw the half start scrappily. It was the home side who had the first break of note in the half when their elusive centre George Visser made a nice break down the Sligo right but from the recycle Sligo managed to win back possession. From the turnover Sligo attacked through second rower Kim Williams whose break bought Sligo inside Westport’s 22. Slow ball saw the referee award Sligo a scrum, and from the scrum Leahy broke down the blindside before releasing centre Andrew Feeney, his neat off load released speedy winger Nick Reynolds, who beat his opposite number but was then tackled into touch by the scrambling Westport defence. Sligo robbed the lineout and went wide, but again were held just short; Sligo attacked the line but Westport’s resilient defence held strong, eventually Leahy picked out Foley who was waiting in the pocket but his well-struck drop goal attempt went narrowly wide.

Sligo introduced Trevor Sweeney midway through the half for the injured Cathal Culhane, and Trevor joined his brother Joe in the backdrop. Westport, who had been under severe pressure for most the game, produced a decent break, and won a penalty in Sligo’s half that was kicked to touch inside Sligo’s 22. Westport pressurised but Sligo’s defence was in an uncompromising mood, and eventually they forced the turnover and a huge clearing kick by fullback David Gerrity bought Sligo 70 yards down the field. With fifteen minutes to go Sligo threw everything at the homeside in an effort to produce what would surely be the game winning score. Fifita broke the gain line before off-loading to Joe Sweeney who was bought down 20m out. Sligo switched it wide and the ball went through the hand to Hynes who tried to dive for the corner but again a last gasp Westport tackle saw him denied and forced into touch. From the lineout, Westport substitute Dave Keane infringed in the ruck, and was yellow carded for dangerous use of the boot and meant the Mayo men had to play with only 14.

Sligo set up camp in Westport territory, and a series of scrums 10m out saw the Westport pack put under immense pressure. With Westport’s defence inspired in the tight, Sligo again sought to go wide with Fifita linking with Feeney to release Reynolds, who looked to have some space but this was soon closed by the home-side’s superb scrambling defence. With five minutes remaining Sligo continued to press and were rewarded with a penalty 22m out and wide on the right, surprisingly they turned down the chance to kick at goal and kicked to the corner. From the lineout they produced one final massive push but Westport were equal to it and eventually Sligo knocked it on to huge cheers from the large home support. Westport retained possession but with only seconds remaining Sligo forced a turnover and rumbled forward. However again another error saw the ball turned back to Westport and they gleefully kicked the ball dead to signal the referee’s final whistle which was greeted with huge cheers by both the Westport’s fans and players alike.

Sligo will be fiercely disappointed by the result and will feel like they have left a win behind. Westport produced nothing going forward, and never once severely threatened the Sligo line but their heroic defensive effort allowed them to cling to a valuable point. Sligo’s first half performance was superb, against the wind they produced a clinical display of hard work and hard yards to take control of the game. The fact that this excellent 40 minutes of committed rugby did not lead to a victory will be even more gutting. In the second half they were error-strewn and despite one of two breaks, at times they looked void of creativity, another reminder of how much the injured Paddy Pearson is missed behind the scrum, not only for his line breaking skills but also for his excellent distribution and tactical kicking. Sligo’s pack again performed with great credit with Peter Mullan and Joe Sweeney excellent throughout. Ross Mannion was an inspiration throughout, tirelessly making the hard yards while his lineout link ups with James Wilson were faultless. Sligo coach Joe Walsh will be disappointed that they didn’t secure the points their first half performance deserved, but Sligo are still top and unbeaten and Westport will be a tough trip for any side later in the year. At times Sligo have rode their luck this year, and perhaps Sunday’s result just balances that out a little, however Walsh will be instilling in his players that you make your own luck and will be calling on his players to show the character they have all season and bounce back from yesterday’s disappointment quickly as they have some major games ahead. The rest of the sides in contention will feel that this result had let them back into the hunt for league honours, so Sligo will need to cut out the errors and take their chances when they travel to OLBC in two weeks time. The 100% record may no longer be there, but Sligo’s chances of JL1 success are still very much alive.