Sligo SFC: Coolera-Strandhill battle back to earn replay

St Molaise Gaels, who have never won the title, almost clinched a dramatic one-point win.

Level at half-time the game looked to have ignited when Jack Davitt goaled for St Molaise Gaels three minutes into the second period. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Sligo SFC final: St Molaise Gaels 1-6 Coolera-Strandhill 0-9 

Holders Coolera-Strandhill salvaged a draw in a slow-burning yet absorbing Sligo SFC decider in the rain at Markievicz Park.

Ross Doherty landed the equalising point for Coolera-Strandhill in the 56th minute and therefore force a replay for a club who were looking for back-to-back titles for the first time.

St Molaise Gaels, who have never won the Owen B Hunt Cup and who lost to Coolera-Strandhill in last year's decider, almost plundered a dramatic one-point win in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

Talisman Alan McLoughlin opted not to go for a direct score from a free and referee Michael Duffy's final whistle sounded as McLoughlin opted for a pass to Joseph Keaney, who lofted the ball over.

St Molaise Gaels thought they had recorded a famous win – for a first-ever senior championship title – but time had ran out on their bid, albeit with a rematch opportunity to come.

Level at half-time, 0-5 to 0-5, this cagey affair looked to have ignited when Jack Davitt goaled for St Molaise Gaels three minutes into the second period.

Peter Laffey's point for Coolera-Strandhill diluted the impact of Davitt's well-taken goal but the north Sligo side went back in front by three points, 1-6 to 0-6, when Alan McLoughlin landed his fourth point of the day in the 40th minute.

St Molaise Gaels didn't score again, however, as Coolera-Strandhill showed their experience to draw level through scores from Keelan Cawley, Niall Murphy, who kicked 0-5 in all, and Ross Doherty.

Sligo ace Murphy supplied four of Coolera-Strandhill's first-half points, with Mark McDaniel also on target, but the defending champions failed to take total control despite leading 0-4 to 0-2 and then 0-5 to 0-3.

St Molaise Gaels, dogged and shrewd, looked to Alan McLoughlin for inspiration – he supplied 0-3 from frees in that first-half, while his brother Jamie McLoughlin and Aaron Currid also pointed.

Coolera-Strandhill were let off the hook when Oisin Gilmartin's goal shot came off the crossbar in the 19th minute and St Molaise Gaels also had to cope with a first-half injury that forced off county player Luke Towey.

Scorers Coolera-Strandhill: N Murphy (0-5, 4f); P Laffey (0-1); K Cawley (0-1); M McDaniel (0-1), R Doherty (0-1) 

St Molaise Gaels: A McLoughlin (0-4, 4f), J Davitt (1-0), J McLoughlin (0-1), A Currid (0-1) 

Coolera-Strandhill: K Harte, S Murphy, S Taylor, C McDonagh, J Cassidy, R O’Carroll, O Harte, K Banks, P Laffey (c), K Cawley, M McDaniel, R Doherty, L Bree, N Murphy, C Burke Subs used: A Higgins for L Bree, 43; L Doherty for C Burke, 43; B O’Mahony for J Cassidy, 50 

St Molaise Gaels: N McLoughlin, L Kennedy, L Casserly, R Ryan, L Towey, E Farrell, J McLoughlin, J Keaney, A McLoughlin (c), K Waters, J Davitt, O Gilmartin, A Currid, G Brady, C Herron Subs used: P McGowan for Luke Towey, 23; M Langan for O Gilmartin, 49; E McHugh for A Currid, 56; M Heraghty for K Waters, 56 Referee: Michael Duffy