Sligo powered to victory in the NFL Division Three final to repeat their win over Antrim in last year’s Division 4 decider.
It was a performance that sent the Yeatsmen heading towards a Connacht Championship campaign with hopes high that they could challenge the double-edged supremacy of Galway and Mayo.
Their movement and finishing was for the most part of the highest order, and they never looked like failing against an Antrim side that looked one-dimensional, and depended much too heavily on Paddy Cunningham for scores.
Early points from Mark Breheny and Kenneth Sweeney got the Yeatsmen's challenge going, and it wasn’t until the 10th minute that Paddy Cunningham’s jinking run was followed by a point for the Ulster side’s opening score
Cunningham accounted for all three of Antrim’s scores in the opening quarter, one of them a delightful effort hoisted from wide on the left.
Meanwhile, Sligo were displaying a greater appetite for the battle, more positive in support of the player in possession and more willing to commit men forward, including adventurous centre back Mark Quinn.
Stephen Gilmartin’s ball-winning in midfield and the strong running of wing forward Alan Costello also helped give them an edge in vital areas, while Antrim struggled to get any fluency going.
By the 23rd minute, Kevin Walsh’s men had moved 0-05 to 0-03 ahead, with Colm McGee hitting his second score.
Substitute Aodhan Gallagher, in at midfield for the injured Brendan Herron, hoisted a long range point to lift Antrim spirits, and Cunningham landed a free to bring the sides level on the half hour.
But they struggled to break down a Sligo defence in which Charlie Harrison, Ross Donovan and Johnny Davey excelled, and the Connacht men finished the half with a flourish, eye-catching scores from David Kelly, McGee, Gilmartin and Costello sending them in with a 0-09 to 0-05 advantage.
The Saffrons did get some attacking momentum going in the early stages of the second half, and points from Cunningham, CJ McGourty and Tomas McCann narrowed the gap.
Manager Walsh introduced the old warhorse Eamonn O’Hara on 44 minutes to steady a ship that was beginning to rock
And it did the trick, with mark Breheny knocking over a free and David Kelly’s stylish fetch matched by an equally exquisite point.
O’Hara was the creator for Gilmartin’s third score of the evening, and the four points cushion had been efficiently restored.
But Antrim dug deep, put a succession of wides behind them, and struck for a goal in the 59th minute, Tomas McCann slipping the ball inside to brother Michael, who finished low past Philip Green to renew hope for the northerners.
Sligo’s response was instant and decisive. They nailed on another volley of scores, including two gems from substitute Stephen Coen to go five clear with eight minutes to play.
And they shot some wonderful scores in the closing stages through McGee and Coen to add silverware once again to a second successive promotion.
Antrim: J Finucane, C Brady, A McLean, K O’Boyle, T Scullion,. J Crozier, S Kelly, M McCann (1-00), B Herron, T O’Neill, CJ McGourty (0-01), J Loughry, P Cunningham (0-06, 3f), M McGill, T McCann (0-01).
Subs: A Gallagher (0-1) for Herron, G O’Boyle (0-1) for McGill, C Close (0-1) for O’Neill, P Doherty for Kelly, A Douglas for McLean
Sligo: P Greene, C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donavan, K Cawley, M Quinn, J Davey, T Taylor, S Gilmartin (0-03), A Costello (0-01), M Breheny (0-04, 1f), F Quinn, C McGee (0-05, 1f), K Sweeney (0-10), D Kelly (0-2).
Subs: E O’Hara for Quinn, S Coen (0-03) for Sweeney
Referee: M Condon (Waterford).
