An encouraging second-half comeback by IT Sligo’s senior gaelic footballers came up just short against Mayo last Sunday as the All-Ireland finalists ran out winners by 1-21 to 1-15 in their Connacht FBD League meeting in Ballina.
The students trailed by nine points at one stage in the second half with Alan Freeman prominent for Mayo as he scored 1-7 over the course of the hour. However, IT Sligo battled back into the game well in the closing quarter, scoring eight points without reply. Claremorris native James Shaughnessy was IT Sligo’s chief marksman with a personal tally of 1-8 against his native county.
There were just three points between the sides with four minutes of normal time remaining but the introduction of Cillian O’Connor helped steady things for Mayo and they had six points to spare by the finish.
IT Sligo will complete their Connacht FBD league campaign this Thursday evening against NUI Galway at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence (Throw-in: 7pm).
Padraig McGourty’s team are preparing to play GMIT (away) in the preliminary round of the 2017 Higher Education Sigerson Cup on January 26th.
IT Sligo team:
S Kilker; R Gallagher, EB Gallagher, P Nielan; R Gorman, E McGrath, D Curran; R Connolly (0-1), K McBrearty; A McClean (0-1), C Reape (0-1), J Brennan (0-2), B Walsh(0-1), J Shaughnessy (1-8), C McGettigan (0-1). Subs: S Meehan for D Curran (17 ), A Wharton for S Meehan (42 ), E Broderick for C Reape (62 ), C Surlis for B Walsh (70).