Free-scoring Sligo sprint past Limerick and into Tailteann Cup semi-final

BREAKING FREE: Sean Carrabine of Sligo is tackled by Emmet Rigter of Limerick. Pic: Tom Beary, Sportsfile

Tailteann Cup quarter-final: Sligo 2-20 Limerick 0-9 

LIMERICK were the latest county to feel the full force of Sligo's scoring power as Tony McEntee's men in black set up a Tailteann Cup semi-final thanks to a 2-20 to 0-9 hammering of Limerick at Markievicz Park.

This was the fourth game that Sligo have scored 20 points, with the score-hungry Connacht county now heading to Croke Park.

The Jimmy Lee-managed Limerick side came to the Sligo town venue on the back of three consecutive wins in the Tailteann Cup, including a preliminary quarter-final defeat of Tipperary, and there were only five points between them and Sligo when they lost to the Connacht side in a Division Three fixture in February.

But Limerick were second-best here – they were eight points behind at half-time, 0-13 to 0-5, following a breeze-assisted first-half and it got worse in the second period when they were outscored 2-7 to 0-4.

Accurate shooter Sean Carrabine led the way for Sligo. He notched 0-7, including five first-half points, as Sligo secured a second Tailteann Cup semi-final in three years.

Cian Lally notched a hat-trick of first-half points for a Sligo side who were briefly behind when Limerick's Iain Corbett opened the scoring with a belter of a point after four minutes.

Sligo's response was merciless – eight points without reply – and they also had sight of goal but defender Paul McNamara's effort went high and came off the upright.

Limerick's hopes were fading fast as the first-half drew to a close, even with Tommy Childs and Cillian Fahy each landing fine points.

They took the first score of the second-half when goalkeeper Josh Ryan converted a '45' but then Sligo took complete control when Lee Deignan goaled with a cool finish from Alan McLoughlin's pass.

The home side began to turn the screw and they eventually reached the 20-point mark in additional time when team captain Niall Murphy landed a free with a ground kick.

Patrick O'Connor's 65th minute goal – from Mark Walsh's industry – poured salt in Limerick's already gaping wounds, with the visitors denied a consolation goal when Rob Childs blazed a shot over and then substitute Brian Ahern fizzed an effort across the face of goal.

Scorers for Sligo: Sean Carrabine (0-7, 3f, 1 ‘mark’); Lee Deignan (1-1); Patrick O’Connor (1-0); Cian Lally (0-3); Niall Murphy (0-3, 1f, 1 ‘45’); Alan McLoughlin (0-2); Darragh Cummins (0-2); Nathan Mullen (0-1); Canice Mulligan (0-1).

Scorers for Limerick: Josh Ryan (0-2, 1f, 1 ‘45’); Peter Nash (0-2, 2f); Rob Childs (0-1); Sean O’Dea (0-1); Cillian Fahy (0-1); Tommy Childs (0-1); Iain Corbett (0-1).

Sligo: A Devaney, N Mullen, E Lyons, P McNamara, P Kilcoyne, B Cox, D Cummins, P O’Connor, C Mulligan, C Lally, A McLoughlin, L Deignan, M Gordon, N Murphy, S Carrabine.

Subs: J Lavin for B Cox, h-t; M Walsh for M Gordon, 53; D Conlon for C Lally, 55; E Smith for D Cummins, 59; P Spillane for A McLoughlin 64.

Limerick: J Ryan, C Woulfe, S O’Dea, P Maher, B Coleman, C Fahy, T McCarthy, T Childs, I Corbett, E Rigter, J Naughton, C Downes, D Neville, R Childs, P Nash. 

Subs: J Liston for T McCarthy, h-t; B Nix for J Naughton, 46; S Costelloe for C Downes, 48; B Ahern for R Childs, 61; A Meade for E Rigter 67. 

Referee: Barry Cassidy (Derry)