Lally and red-hot Murphy fire Sligo past Limerick and back into the mix

FINE FORM: Niall Murphy of Sligo. Pic: Shauna Clinton/Sportsfile

Allianz Football League Division Three: Sligo 1-18 Limerick 1-15 

Cian Lally's polished goal after 20 seconds, as well as half a dozen points from talisman Niall Murphy, revived Sligo's Division Three campaign as they overcame 14-man Limerick by three points, 1-18 to 1-15, in a see-saw encounter at Markievicz Park.

But battling Limerick, who have now only won one of their opening four games, will rue that they didn't take at least a draw from the Sligo town venue.

Sean Clancy's 50th-minute sending off – he was shown a black card to add to a yellow card earlier in the second-half – was a major blow for the visitors, who were inspired by seven points from excellent full-forward James Naughton.

Wing-forward Eliah O'Riordan bagged a hat-trick of two-pointer frees for Jimmy Lee's side, who were denied two goals in the second-half. Sligo goalkeeper Aidan Devaney saved substitute Peter Nash's effort and Cillian Fahy's flick was goalbound only for defender Jack Lavin's goal-line clearance.

Limerick, who were four points down at half-time, 1-10 1-6, ensured it would be a nervy finish for Sligo when James Naughton's 68th-minute free cut the difference to two points, 1-17 to 1-15.

But Sligo wrapped up a merited win with a converted free from Murphy, who was the winners' main scorer along with goalscorer Lally (1-2) and Alan McLoughlin (0-4).

Lally's early goal had set up the hosts for a generally positive first-half, one in which Murphy scored 0-4 and Lally supplied a two-pointer from play.

Limerick, however, were back in the mix when Danny Neville goaled with aplomb following a 14th-minute turnover on a Sligo restart.

That score reduced Sligo's advantage to a point, 1-6 to 1-5, but the breeze-assisted hosts, much improved compared to their loss away to Laois, pushed on to lead at the break.

Scorers for Sligo: Niall Murphy 0-6 (3f), Cian Lally 1-2 (1tp), Alan McLoughlin 0-4 (2f), Luke Towey 0-1, Ross Doherty 0-1, Canice Mulligan 0-1, Kyle Cawley 0-1, Joshua Flynn 0-1, Shane Deignan 0-1 

Scorers for Limerick: James Naughton 0-7 (2f, 1tp), Eliah O'Riordan 0-6 (3tpf), Danny Neville 1-0, Barry Coleman 0-1, Peter Nash 0-1 (1f) 

Sligo: A Devaney, T Ross, E Lyons, L Casserly, L Towey, J Lavin, R Doherty, C Mulligan, G Gorman, C Sheridan, A McLoughlin, K Cawley, C Lally, N Murphy, J Flynn Subs used: D O'Boyle for L Casserly, 25 ('blood' sub), L Deignan for K Cawley, 47; L Gilmartin for R Doherty, 54; S Deignan for J Flynn, 57 

Limerick: J Alfred, J Hassett, C McSweeney, O Collins, D Buckley, K Ryan, T McCarthy, B Coleman, C Fahy, P Maher, D Neville, E O’Riordan, S Clancy, J Naughton, R Childs Subs used: P Nash for C McSweeney, h-t; J McCarthy for P Maher, h-t; M McCarthy for B Coleman, h-t; A Meade for O Collins 62 

Referee: Enda McFeely (Donegal)