Sligo 7 – Corinthians 0

Sligo U14s advanced to the 2nd round of the Connacht U14 cup with a gripping 7-0 victory over Corinthians in Strandhill on Sunday. Sligo went into the game as slight underdogs against a much-vaunted Corinthians side who had enjoyed a successful league campaign.

Corinthians lived up to their favourites tag early on as they put Sligo under sustained pressure right from the kick-off. The first 15 minutes were played deep inside Sligo territory with the away side pressurising the Sligo line at every opportunity. However the Sligo defence put in a heroic period of defensive excellence, and managed to hold firm. Having survived this early onslaught Sligo came into the game more, and with their forwards starting to get on top in a very physical battle upfront, Sligo had a solid platform off which they could launch attacks. The forwards were immense, and destroyed their opposition’s scrum, even winning a number of scrums against the head. However like the away side earlier, Sligo couldn’t convert this pressure into scores and the sides went in level at 0-0.

The second half began as the first finished with Sligo’s dominant forward unit in the ascendency. Receiving cleaner ball, the Sligo backs began to look dangerous, and with some sniping breaks and training-ground moves they looked to attack. The Corinthians defence was superb however and they held out until Sligo finally crossed the Galway side’s line with only five minutes remaining. After another period of sustained pressure, the superb Jason McGoldrick broke through the away side’s defence to score.

Conor Keirns added the conversion as Sligo snatched a 7-0 lead with time nearly up. Corinthians tried in vain to get back into the game but a determined Sligo side saw out the final minutes and ran out victorious by 7-0.

Sligo will be delighted with the win against strong opposition, but will also be concerned that their possessional and territorial dominance was not reflected on the scoreboard, and the Sligo coaching staff will be looking to work on their teams finishing in the coming weeks. Sligo face Ballinasloe in the next round, and with a good squad of players and fierce competition for places they will be expected to advance further in the competition.

[ Match Photos ]

Sligo : F Zawada, K Filan, J Mc Govern, N O’Rourke, L Dunne, G Knecht, S Boyle, J O Hehir, C Keirns, S Finnegan, M Leydon, J McGoldrick, C Mulligan, P Murray, P McGloin

Replacements: A Donnellan, O Talbot, D McGrath, S Gilligan, S Martyn, A Nairn, D Burke, T Cadden.