Sligo hold Model charge over Wexford at Markievicz Park
Despite playing with 14 men from the 33rd minute, when Pat Hughes was red-carded following a second booking, Niall Carew’s charges held on, as Mark Breheny’s goal after 61 minutes kept Wexford at arm’s length.
The home side, who never trailed, went seven points clear, 1-5 to 0-1, by the 22nd minute and seemed on course for a comfortable win after their campaign’s top scorer, Adrian Marren, converted a penalty.
But Wexford gained a foothold when Tiernan Rossiter goaled from Ciaran Lyng’s pass after 27 minutes. Sligo’s interval lead of four points, 1-6 to 1-2, seemed brittle, given that they had a player less and that the breeze would favour Wexford.
The visitors’ comeback hopes were dashed when Graeme Cullen’s 53rd-minute goalbound shot was kept out by Sligo net-minder Aidan Devaney.
Scorers for Sligo: Mark Breheny (1-3), Adrian Marren (1-3, 1-0 pen, 3f), Niall Murphy (0-3), Criostoir Davey (0-1)
Wexford scorers: Ciaran Lyng (0-4, 1f), Tiernan Rossiter (1-0), Ben Brosnan (0-2, 1f), Jamie Carty (0-1), John Tubritt (0-1)
SLIGO: A Devaney, D Maye, K McDonnell, R Donovan, K Cawley, E Flanagan, B Egan, N Murphy, C Breheny, N Ewing, M Breheny, C Davey, D Kelly, P Hughes, A Marren
Subs: J Martyn for D Maye, 55; S Gilmartin for C Breheny, 63; S Coen for C Davey, 67; L Bree for K McDonnell, 69; D McConnon for E Flanagan, 70; J Hynes for D Kelly, 70+2
WEXFORD: A Masterson, R Tierney, J Tubritt, P O’Keeffe, B Malone, K Butler, S Donohoe, C Kehoe, J Carty, K O’Grady, G Cullen, T Rossiter, B Brosnan, C Lyng, N Hughes
Subs: N Rossiter for K Butler, 42 (black card); P Byrne for P O’Keeffe, 49; J Holmes for G Cullen, 54; J White for J Carty, 68; G Carty for N Hughes, 68
Referee: James Molloy (Galway)