Niall Murphy leads the charge as Sligo run out comfortable winners over Fermanagh

Niall Murphy made all the difference for Sligo. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

AFL Division 3: Sligo 1-19 Fermanagh 0-15

SLIGO are up and running in Division 3 after this eventually comfortable seven-point defeat of Fermanagh at a revamped Markievicz Park.

A strong finish to both halves set up this first AFL win for Sligo's new-joint managers, Dessie Sloyan and Eamonn O'Hara, with the venue's new pitch surface providing a perfect setting.

Talisman Niall Murphy bagged 1-2 just before half-time – his goal from a polished penalty – to put Sligo 1-7 to 0-5 ahead at the break.

There was a similar surge from the hosts at the end of the second-half – they scored 0-6 in the closing stages, compared to 0-2 from the visitors, to purge themselves of the previous weekend's loss to Westmeath.

Goalscorer Murphy, the excellent Cian Lally, Alan McLoughlin and Luke Casserly each pointed during Sligo's push for the finish line, with substitutes Dillon Walsh and Joshua Flynn also on target.

Declan Bonner's Fermanagh, who have now lost their opening two fixtures, dominated the opening 20 minutes, in terms of possession from restarts and scores as they led 0-5 to 0-2. Four of their five points in that first-half came from the outstanding Garvan Jones, who kicked 0-7 in all.

But Fermanagh were also missing chances – they hit nine wides in total – and their control of the midfield breaks from kickouts was reduced when Sligo introduced Patrick O'Connor for the injured Darragh Cummins.

Battling Fermanagh brought the margin down to two points, 1-13 to 0-14, by the 67th minute, having outscored Sligo, 0-9 to 0-6, but Sligo then turned up the heat to take spoils.

Scorers for Sligo: N Murphy 1-4 (1-0 pen, 1f), C Lally 0-4, A McLoughlin 0-3 (1f), D Walsh 0-2, K Cawley 0-1, J Flynn 0-1, C Mulligan 0-1, J Donlon 0-1, L Casserly 0-1, N Mullen 0-1. 

Scorers for Fermanagh: G Jones 0-7 (3f), J Largo Elis 0-3, D McCosker 0-1, C Corrigan 0-1, G Quigley 0-1, P Breen 0-1, C O'Hanlon 0-1. 

SLIGO: A Devaney, J Donlon, E Lyons, L Casserly, N Mullen, D Cummins, J Lavin, C Mulligan, L Towey, C Sheridan, N Murphy, C Lally, A McLoughlin, L Deignan, P Spillane.

Subs used: P O’Connor for D Cummins (11); K Cawley for L Deignan (43); D Walsh for J Donlon (47); G Gorman for C Sheridan (54); J Flynn for P Spillane (60). 

FERMANAGH: J Kelly, J Cassidy, O Smyth, L Flanagan, F O’Brien, S McGullion, D McCusker, S McGullion, C O’Brien, S Largo Elis, C Corrigan, B Horan, G Jones, D McGurn, C Love. 

Subs used: G Quigley for C O’Brien (31); P Breen for S McGullion (39); A Kelm for D McCusker (43); C O’Hanlon for B Horan (50); B Horan for A Kelm (60, temporary). 

Referee: C Maguire (Clare).