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by James McMahon
Galway footballers have certainly had the upper hand over Sligo in Connacht championship meetings over the years. More recently, however, the Yeats county have enjoyed some success, namely the 2007 Connacht final and 2010 Connacht semi-final replay.
Sandwiched in between those games was a narrow win for the Tribesemen in ’09 at the last-four stage.
A further glance through the history books shows that Sligo defeated Galway in the 1922 Connacht final, before going on to beat Tipperary in the All-Ireland semi-final. However, an objection from Galway forced the Connacht decider to be replayed, where Sligo lost.
The provincial final of 1971, which went to a replay, produced games of high quality. Sligo’s Mickey Kearins kicked 0-14 in the drawn encounter as the sides ended 2-15 apiece. Galway won the replay 1-17 to 3-10.
1975 saw Galway travel to Markievicz Park to take on the Yeats county in the Connacht semi-final.
Sligo 1-13 Galway 0-06 – Connacht SFC semi-final, Markievicz Park, 8 June 1975
On a blistering hot day, with the majestic Benbulben in view, Sligo footballers deservedly saw off Galway by ten points to book a place in the Connacht decider.
A strong second half showing swung the game decisively in the home side’s favour and the Tribesman – All-Ireland finalists in ’71, '73 and ’74 – were a well beaten unit come the final whistle.
Mickey Kearins was the star man for Sligo, contributing 0-10 to their score. He proved a handful throughout for markers Jack Cosgrove and Stephen Kinneavy.
Defensively, the home side, with 1974 All Star Barnes Murphy a commanding presence, were tenacious in the tackle. They regularly forced the Galway attackers to shoot from impossible angles.
The visitors held a 0-4 to 0-3 half-time lead, but that advantage was quickly wiped out after the resumption with a quick point from Kearins. Dessie Kerins got the only goal of the game on 40 minutes to set Sligo on their way.
By the 60th minute they were 1-10 to 0-4 ahead and despite late points from Liam Sammon and Tommy Joe Gilmore, the home side finished strongly to record a comprehensive victory that surprised more than a few pundits.
In the provincial decider, Sligo edged past Mayo after a replay on a 2-10 to 0-15 scoreline to win their first title since 1928.
Scorers:
Sligo – M Kearins 0-10, D Kerins 1-0, M Hoey 0-2, M Laffey 0-01 Galway – L Sammon 0-2, M Hughes, T Naughton, M Rooney, T J Gilmore 0-1 each
SLIGO: T Cummins; R Lipsett, J Brennan, A Caffrey; M Brennan, B Murphy, P Henry; J Stenson, T Colleary, M Laffey, M Hoey, F Henry; D Kerins, M Kearins, J Kearins
Subs – D Connolly for Colleary
GALWAY: G Mitchell; J Waldron, J Cosgrove, M Geraghty; J O’Neill, T J Gilmore, J Hughes; W Joyce, D Smith, T Naughton; T Naughton, M Judge, M Rooney; L Sammon, B Talty, F Rushe
Subs – M Hughes for Rushe, P Donnelan for M Hughes, S Kinneavy for Cosgrove
