St Mary’s dethrone Shamrock Gaels to clinch Sligo title 

The Sligo Town side beidged an 11-year wait. 

St Mary's celebrate with the trophy after winning the Sligo County Senior Club Football Championship final. Pic: Eakin Howard/Sportsfile

Sligo GAA SFC Final: St Mary’s 1-12 Shamrock Gaels 1-10 

Sligo Town's St Mary’s are Sligo SFC champions for the first time since 2015 after an efficient, occasionally nervy but never-in-doubt defeat of holders Shamrock Gaels at Markievicz Park.

This win marks a milestone campaign for St Mary’s, who were founded 50 years ago this year.

Strong starts to each half made the difference for St Mary’s, who are managed by former Sligo star Mark Breheny, now an Owen B Hunt Cup winner with the club both as a player and manager.

Inter-county hurler Robert O’Kelly-Lynch’s goal after seven minutes - from a slick move that involved Finn Young and Paul Kilcoyne - helped St Mary’s establish a foothold.

A six-point interval lead, 1-6 to 0-3, was a fair summary of how much St Mary’s were in control but five wides - when playing with the breeze - was a concern.

Their purposeful start to the second-half, the highlight being a mighty two-pointer from play by Nathan Rooney, who finished with 0-7 to his credit and then the Player of the Match gong, kept St Mary’s on track.

Another score from Nathan Rooney extended the lead to six points, 1-10 to 0-7, left Shamrock Gaels in a real pickle with 17 minutes left.

All seemed lost for the defending champions when David Quinn, their talisman and top scorer, saw his penalty effort saved by James Cronin after 47 minutes.

Then Shamrock Gaels, who only led once when Niall Kenny pointed after two points, summoned a gritty comeback - a revival sparked by Shane Deignan’s goal after 52 minutes.

St Mary’s got some breathing space when Fintan Campbell pointed but three points on the bounce for the holders, including scores from Shane Deignan, David Quinn and Ciaran Kenny, left just one between them, 1-11 to 1-10.

But there was no way back for Shamrock Gaels, who were seeking to win back-to-back titles for the first time in their history, and when St Mary’s added their final point in the fourth minute of stoppage time - Nathan Rooney adroitly kicked a free - the party started for the Saints.

Scorers St Mary’s: Nathan Rooney 0-7 (1tp, 1tpf, 1f), R O’Kelly-Lynch 1-0, Eli Rooney 0-2 (1f), Fionn O’Hehir, Fintan Campbell, Kyle Cawley 0-1 each.

Shamrock Gaels: Shane Deignan 1-2, David Quinn 0-3 (3f), Ciaran Kenny 0-3 (1tp), Patrick Kenny 0-1, Niall Kenny 0-1 St Mary’s: J Cronin, S Lynch, R Feehily, F O’Hehir, P Brady, P Kilcoyne, R O’Kelly-Lynch, G O’Kelly-Lynch, D McGovern, F Campbell, F Young, C Davey, K Cawley, N Rooney, E Rooney Subs used: R Niland for Conor Davey, 40; E Mulligan for R O’Kelly-Lynch, 50; B Meehan for F Young, 59; S Coen for Eli Rooney (59); M Clifford for F Campbell, 60+2 

Shamrock Gaels: D Lyons, B Tuohy, E Lyons, K McKenna, S Carroll, C Sheridan, C Kenny, D McDermott, G Barlow, P Kenny, D Quinn, L Deignan, J Quinn, S Deignan, N Kenny Sub used: L Flynn for J Quinn, 48 

Referee: Ciaran McGovern