Sligo 1-21 Leitrim 1-17
History was made in the Connacht Centre of excellence as the first ever inter-county game was played in the Dome.
The footballers of Sligo and Leitrim had the pleasure of taking part in the opening game of 2022. The venture which cost over three million euro will cater for all types of weather and is major boost for Connacht GAA as a whole.
This was also the first game for Andy Moran as Leitrim senior manager. Niall Murphy made history as he scored the first ever inter-county point in the dome.
It took Leitrim four minutes to score which level the scores through Jack Heslin but Sligo took control of the match minute later as Niall Murphy netted after mixup in Leitrim defence.
Keith Beirne and Darragh Rooney kept Leitrim in touch but it was Sligo who lead at the water break 1-5 - 0-4.
Three points after the water break for Sligo had Sligo ahead by seven points but this fast paced game took complete change as quick fire 1-1 without reply for Andy Moran’s Leitrim with goal coming from Darragh Rooney had his side back within three points.
Beirne added two further points to cut the gap to single point but looked like Sligo would lead at the break when Sligo captain Keelan Cawley kicked a super point. Ryan O’Rourke ensured the sides were level at the break 1-10 a piece at the interval.
Free from Murphy opened the scoring at the start of the second half but O’Rourke soon replied for his side.
Sligo would dominate the remainder of the quarter outscoring Leitrim by six points four coming from impressive Murphy as Sligo lead 1-17 - 1-11.
It looked like game had gone away from Leitrim but big quarter saw them come right back Into the match out scoring Sligo 5-1 to leave exciting finish as Sligo only lead by two points.
Despite the late rally from Leitrim Niall Murphy ensured they couldn’t complete the comeback as Sligo went onto win by four points.
Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 1-10 (5fs), Pat Hughes 0-3 (2ms), Alan Reilly and Brian Egan (1m) 0-2 each, Paddy O'Connor, Keelan Cawley, Mikey Gordon, and David Quinn 0-1 each.
Scorers for Leitrim: Keith Beirne 0-9 (6fs), Darragh Rooney 1-1, Ryan O'Rourke 0-3, Paul Keaney, Donal Casey, Jack Heslin, and Riordan O'Rourke (m) 0-1 each.
SLIGO: E Kilgannon; K McKenna, E Lyons, M Walsh; K Cawley, P Kilcoyne, D Phillips; P O'Connor, G Gorman; B Egan, A Reilly, D Conlon; D Quinn, P Hughes, N Murphy.
Subs: M Gordon for Conlon (27), Cummins for O'Connor (48), S Regan for Egan (54), O Kennedy for Cawley (54), J Haran for McKenna (59), I Barrett for Walsh (65).
LEITRIM: B Flynn; P Maguire, M Diffley, D Bruen; J Rooney, D Casey, J heslin; C McGloin, D Wrynn; E Mulligan, K Beirne, E Sweeney; R O'Rourke, D Rooney, S Quinn.
Subs: Riordan O'Rourke for Sweeney (HT), P Dolan for McGloin (45), P Keaney for Mulligan (48), A Hoare for Rooney (52)
REFEREE : Thomas Murphy (Galway)
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