Walsh: Much done, more to do

ONE giant leap for Sligo fans – but just another small step for Kevin Walsh in his continued revamping of Sligo from plucky underdogs to serious contenders.

Delirious Sligo supporters invaded the pitch in the aftermath of their county’s spectacular finish that toppled Galway in Saturday’s gripping Connacht SFC semi-final replay at Markievicz Park.

Nevertheless, the Sligo manager viewed the thrilling outcome as just another result, albeit a hugely positive one.

“We want to get over the line,” Walsh said after the heart-in-mouth one-point defeat of his native county, with three late points securing a provincial final berth against Roscommon at Castlebar’s McHale Park on Sunday week. “You will have some good looking games and some bad looking games, but the bottom line is that results count.

“I’m here to do a job and they (the players) are doing it – I intend to finish it. They are the best bunch of fellas I’ve worked with.”

Galway appeared to have done enough to merit a result – veteran forward Padraic Joyce and rising talisman Sean Armstrong the pick of their attack and, between them, the suppliers of nine of their 16 points.

When Paul Conroy, an interval replacement for Michael Meehan, whose ankle injury leaves him doubtful for Saturday’s home tie against Wexford in the qualifiers, pointed in the 34th minute of the second-half, Galway had one foot in the decider.

History was on their side, too, as the counties’ four previous replay encounters in Connacht favoured Galway teams.

Sligo’s never-say-die attitude mirrored that of Galway in the drawn game at Salthill the previous Sunday – wing-back Gareth Bradshaw’s stoppage-time point capping a Galway revival in a game that saw Sligo lead by nine points at the break – as scores from substitute Kenneth Sweeney, man of the match Mark Breheny and Colm McGee, another second-half place, sealed a defiant turnaround.

McGee’s injury-time point, his second, put Sligo into their first Connacht final since 2007, also their last time to lift the Nestor Cup.

Dynamic David Kelly’s early second-half goal, when he exploited a gift-wrapped opportunity from Gareth Bradshaw’s ill-judged backpass, settled Sligo after their sluggish first-half at the end of which they trailed 0-8 to 0-6.

Sligo, who started without injured midfielder Tony Taylor and were forced to substitute Eamonn O’Hara in the final minutes because of a knock, later erased another Galway lead of three points, Mark Breheny’s free making it 1-10 to 0-13 with 14 minutes left, before their decisive late flourish.

Breheny was the winners’ most effective forward, in terms of work-rate alone, and a point off his weaker right foot, Sligo’s penultimate score, capped an outstanding display.

Captain Charlie Harrison stood up brilliantly with fellow defenders Ross Donovan and Keelan Cawley impressive.

Kevin Walsh also noted the contribution of the scoring substitutes, Kenneth Sweeney and Colm McGee, two of three alterations to the side that began the original meeting in Salthill.

“It was always going to be a dogfight. We said beforehand that it could be a reversal of roles in relation to the drawn game. It is an 80-minutes game at this stage and you just can never throw the towel in.”

Walsh’s counterpart, Joe Kernan, was fulsome in his praise of Sligo and his own players. Kernan’s record in replays from his Armagh days, which included a replay win over Sligo in an All-Ireland quarter-final eight years ago, was seen as a useful stat ahead of this rematch.

But even the Armagh man’s noted aura couldn’t prevent Bradshaw’s amazing error, the enforced substitutions because of injury of defender Finian Hanley and Michael Meehan (the latter’s ankle injury compounds a year already blighted with a knee problem), and the absence of another calibre forward, Nicky Joyce.

“I am disappointed to lose what was a great game. We gave everything we had, I’m very proud of the players – there were some fantastic performances. With a couple of minutes to go and two points up you would think you would get there, but you have to give Sligo credit. They scored three great points near the end,” Kernan reflected.

Walsh, who now prepares his charges for a July 18 date with unfancied Roscommon, remained cool and pragmatic. “It puts you in the Connacht final that is the bottom line. You can look at the history books but there is no silverware on the table after these results, we have to go and finish the job.”

Scorers for Sligo: D Kelly (1-2), M Breheny (0-4, two frees), A Marren (0-3, one free), C McGee (0-2), K Sweeney, A Costello, K Cawley (0-1 each)

Scorers for Galway: P Joyce (0-5, four frees), S Armstrong (0-4, two frees), M Meehan (0-1, ‘45’), E Concannon, G Bradshaw, G O’Donnell, J Bergin, M Clancy, P Conroy (0-1 each)

Subs for Sligo: C McGee for Coen (55), S Davey for Costello (60), K Sweeney for O’Hara (77), F Quinn for Marren (70+3)

Subs for Galway: P Conroy for Meehan (h-t); D Reilly for Hanley (56).