NICKY RACKARD CUP FINAL
Sligo 2-14
Armagh 2-13
By Daire Walsh
Armagh suffered heartache at Croke Park yesterday as substitute Kieran Prior’s stoppage-time point swung a thrilling Nicky Rackard Cup decider in Sligo’s favour.
Despite losing Tiarnan Nevin to a red card on the hour mark, the Orchard County looked set to come out on top when Danny Magee grabbed his second goal of the game. A monster Simon Doherty free stretched them further in front, only for Sligo to respond through Connor Griffin and a Gerard O’Kelly Lynch major.
This left the tie poised for extra-time, until Prior produced the decisive score of the contest on 74 minutes/ In a whirlwind start to the action, O’Kelly Lynch grabbed a second-minute goal for Sligo.
While this was an early set-back for Padraig O Conchuir’s northerners, they subsequently edged in front with unanswered points by Eoin McGuinness (two), Dean Gaffney and Dylan McKenna. Gaffney and corner-back Patrick Quinn were also on target, but thanks to the dead-ball accuracy of full-forward Keith Raymond, Sligo moved back in front on the stroke of 30 minutes.
However, Armagh hit the back with Magee’s first goal of the game and they eventually brought a 1-10 to 1-8 cushion into the interval.
Though the Ulster men were on course to secure a third Nicky Rackard crown, back-to-back Raymond points cancelled out their lead. Additionally, Joe Starr and Shane Crowley were later on hand to traded scores with Armagh duo Gaffney and Curry.
Although Sligo appeared to hold all the aces when they gained a numerical advantage, it was instead the launchpad for a seemingly pivotal Armagh surge. Magee’s clinical finish created considerable daylight and goalkeeper Doherty converted a free on his own ’65’ to give them a four-point buffer.
Their Connacht rivals simply refused to throw in the towel, though, and O Kelly Lynch found the bottom left-hand corner of the Armagh net to breathe fresh life into their challenge.
Every possession was crucial at this stage, but when Prior broke onto a loose ball just outside the opposition ’45’, he determined the outcome by splitting the posts in effortless style.
Scorers – Sligo: K Raymond 0-8 (7f, 1 ’65’), G O’Kelly Lynch 2-1, R Cox, J Starr, C Griffin, S Crowley, K Prior 0-1 each. Armagh: D Magee 2-0, D Gaffney 0-6 (6f), E McGuinness, N Curry 0-2 each, S Doherty (f), P Quinn, D McKenna 0-1 each.
ARMAGH: S Doherty; C Rice, O McCann, P Quinn; T Nevin, D Bridges, C Clifford; S Toal, S Renaghan; D Gaffney, O Curry, P McGrane; D McKenna, D Magee, E McGuinness.
Subs: N Curry for McCann (20), J O’Connor for Toal (56).
SLIGO: M Burke; J Weir, N Feehily, K O’Kennedy; R McHugh, L Reidy, K Banks; R Cox, J Starr; G Cadden, C Griffin, K Raymond; T O’Kelly Lynch, G O’Kelly Lynch, K Gilmartin.
Subs: S Crowley for T O’Kelly Lynch (h-t), M Gordon for O’Kennedy (47), K Prior for Cadden (58).
Referee: J Connors (Donegal).