McNulty inspires Leitrim to first Connacht win over Sligo in 15 years

Leitrim held off a late victory over Sligo to set up a Connacht SFC semi-final against Galway

Barry McNulty scored 1-6 for Leitrim in their Connacht SFC quarter-final victory over Sligo. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Connacht SFC quarter-final: Sligo 1-20, Leitrim 3-15 

LEITRIM and Sligo served up a thriller at Markievicz Park as Leitrim – inspired by outstanding midfielder Barry McNulty, scorer of 1-6 – beat their provincial neighbours by a point to advance to a semi-final against Galway.

The winners were 10 points ahead after 47 minutes, 3-11 to 0-10, and showed grit to fend off Sligo's comeback, which included a goal from substitute Pat Spillane, as the hosts never managed to get level.

This was Leitrim's first win over Sligo in the Connacht championship since 2011 and Steven Poacher's charges defied the weight of history and the fact that Sligo were operating at a higher level of the league, Division 3, compared to the underdogs' Division 4 status.

Sligo started well but a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after 14 minutes, which included fine points from Lee Deignan and Niall Murphy, was as good as it would get for the men in black.

Barry McNulty's 16th minute goal sparked wind-assisted Leitrim's revival and they found the net again 12 minutes later – this time from wing-back Keith Keegan – to establish a six-point interval lead, 2-7 to 0-7.

Sligo, who endured a scoreless spell of 17 minutes in that first-half, attempted to close the gap in the early stages of the second-half but they looked dead and buried with 23 minutes to go as Leitrim had moved 3-11 to 0-10 in front.

Leitrim captain Ryan O'Rourke scored the winners' third goal from a move that saw Oisin McLoughlin's goal effort kept out by Sligo netminder Aidan Devaney.

Sligo began to play when all seemed lost and substitute Pat Spillane's goal triggered a cohesive response that included two-pointers from Luke Towey and Lee Deignan.

There was also a goal chance for Cian Lally that was brilliantly put over for a point by Leitrim goalkeeper Killian Gaffey as Sligo got the difference down to a point with four minutes left.

Sligo missed a late chance to at least force extra-time as Leitrim held on for a memorable win.

Scorers for Sligo: Lee Deignan 0-7 (1tp, 2f), Alan McLoughlin 0-5 (3f, 1tp), Luke Towey 0-3 (1tp), Pat Spillane 1-0, Niall Murphy 0-2 (1f), Cian Lally 0-1, Jack Lavin 0-1, David Quinn 0-1 

Scorers for Leitrim: Barry McNulty 1-6 (1tp, 1f), Oisin McLoughlin 0-3, Ryan O'Rourke 1-0, Keith Keegan 1-0, Sean Harkin 0-2, Tom Prior 0-2, Fergal McLoughlin 0-1, Paul Honeyman 0-1 

SLIGO: A Devaney, T Ross, C Sheridan, L Casserly, C Mulligan, J Lavin, P Kilcoyne, D Cummins, L Towey, L Deignan, A McLoughlin, C Lally, J Flynn, N Murphy, S Deignan 

Subs: P Spillane for J Flynn, h-t; K Cawley for S Deignan, h-t; D O'Boyle for P Kilcoyne, 47; G Gorman for N Murphy, 49; D Quinn for C Sheridan, 61 

LEITRIM: K Gaffey, C McGloin, C Reynolds, S Harkin, E McLoughlin, M Diffley, K Keegan, C Quinn, B McNulty, F McLoughlin, R O’Rourke, T Prior, R O’Rourke, G Reynolds, O McLoughlin 

Subs: B Guckian for F McLoughlin, 55; E McNamara for E McLoughlin, 55; P Honeyman for O McLoughlin, 58; J Kelly for T Prior, 62; M McKiernan for G Reynolds, 62 (temporary) 

Referee: Fergal Kelly (Longford)