Holders Curry off to flying start

A goal in each half from Danny O’Hara and Conor McIntyre ensured defending champions Curry made a successful start to the Sligo SFC campaign on Saturday night when they overcame Eastern Harps’ dogged challenge, 2-11 to 0-15, at Bunnanadden in a Group ‘A’ fixture.

Despite being without a host of last year’s winning team, most notably Adrian Marren and David Maye, Curry still had a star in Brian McDonagh — who scored six points — as Danny O’Hara’s 30th minute goal set up Curry’s 1-7 to 0-7 interval lead.

Eastern Harps, without the Taylors, Paul and Tony, improved in the second-half through midfielder Paddy Grady’s promptings while forwards Fiachra Gorman and Daniel Flaherty also impressed.

Substitute Shane Regan scored a brilliant point to put Eastern Harps ahead, 0-13 to 1-9, with 13 minutes to go but Curry replied with 1-1 in the next two minutes — the goal from Conor McIntyre — to regain control with veteran defender Kenny Morley also impressing.

Title favourites Tourlestrane strolled to a 17-points win over Ballymote, 0-20 to 0-3, in a completely one-sided Group ‘C’ tie at Bunnanadden. John Quinn and Brian Egan each landed five points but the star turn was that of Sligo Minor Cathal Henry, who kicked three superb second-half scores.

David Kelly hit the equalising free as Tubbercurry salvaged a draw with St Molaise Gaels, 0-13 to 3-4, at Markievicz Park. St Molaise Gaels bagged three goals — Darren Gilsenan with a brace and James Brennan also on target — and Gilsenan’s first-half goal saw St Molaise Gaels lead at the break, 2-1 to 0-6, in this well-contested Group ‘B’ fixture.

Fergal McDonagh landed six points for Tubber, who recovered from the concession of a second-half penalty that Darren Gilsenan converted.

Meanwhile, St Mary’s registered a five-points Group ‘D’ win over Geevagh, 2-17 to 2-12, at Corran Park as Stephen Coen showed his class by scoring 1-9 and he also had a hand in the winners’ other goal of the second-half, scored by Conor Jordan, a former Mayo U-21.

Geevagh’s two goals were scored by Tomas O’Reilly.