Sligo withstood a ferocious comeback from Leitrim to secured a one-point win and earn promotion to Division 3 of the Allianz Football League in a thriller at Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon.
Although four points up at half-time, 0-09 to 0-05, and later eight points clear, 1-11 to 0-06, as a Pat Spillane goal helped give them a major lead, Sligo were pegged back by the Andy Moran-managed Leitrim who goaled through Barry McNulty and Aidan Flynn.
But Sligo, who only needed a draw to make the leap to the next tier, overturned a one-point deficit thanks to late points from Finnian Cawley and Sean Carrabine - scores that silenced the massive home support.
This was the latest instalment of the intense rivalry between these Connacht neighbours.
They met three times last year with Sligo winning all three clashes, including the intense Tailteann Cup quarter-final at this venue that Sligo won 4-3 on penalties.
Sligo came into this game on the back of a run of five successive wins since a disappointing opening round loss to Laois. A win or a draw would give Tony McEntee's side promotion.
Leitrim, just two points behind Sligo in the standings, knew that only victory would get them over the line and a superior score difference was an advantage if they were to end up level on points with Laois and Wicklow.
Leitrim’s start was explosive as they went three points up, 0-03 to 0-0, by the fourth minute.
Donal Wrynn, who converted a mark, Keith Beirne and Darragh Rooney were on target to lift the buoyant home support.
An early turning point was a seventh-minute goal chance for Leitrim. Leading scorer Keith Beirne fizzed a shot wide following a quickly-taken mark from Donal Wrynn.
Sligo, spurred by this let-off, reeled off four points without reply to take a 0-04 to 0-03 lead by the 15th minute.
Patrick O’Connor kicked two of his four first-half points during this phase, with Cian Lally bursting through but opting for a point instead of a goal.
Evan Sweeney’s 18th-minute point - a fine score - brought Leitrim level, 0-04 to 0-04, but another scoring burst from Sligo, when they struck five unanswered points, put Tony McEntee’s men 0-09 to 0-04 ahead with 33 minutes played.
Patrick O’Connor was continuing to impress for Sligo, with Keelan Cawley also busy on his return to the starting team.
Leitrim’s fifth point in stoppage time - a very good finish from Darragh Rooney - was their first point in almost 20 minutes.
The hosts caused panic in the Sligo goalmouth before half-time as Keith Beirne got on the end of Evan Sweeney’s ball but his shot was deflected out for a ‘45’.
Sligo, who brought a 0-09 to 0-05 lead into the second-half, appeared to have taken total control when Spillane’s superb 42nd-minute goal helped put Sligo seven points clear, 1-10 to 0-06.
The visitors later extended this advantage to seven points but Leitrim were still battling and an Aidan Flynn goal chance was blocked as the hosts tried to find a way back.
Leitrim’s comeback began when substitute Barry McNulty netted from a rebound after Jack Heslin’s goal effort was blocked after 54 minutes.
Sligo were on the back foot but twice could have goaled through shots by Niall Murphy and Sean Carrabine but Leitrim goalkeeper Nevin O’Donnell twice made excellent saves.
Between the 63rd minute and 67th minute Leitrim turned a four-point deficit, 1-13 to 1-9, into a one-point lead, 2-11 to 1-13.
Aidan Flynn found the net after a goalmouth scramble that saw two Leitrim efforts kept out; then Donal Wrynn and Tom Prior each pointed.
But Sligo had the final say and regained the lead with points from Finnian Cawley and Sean Carrabine.
Leitrim: Nevin O’Donnell, Paddy Maguire, Mark Diffley, Conor Reynolds, Shane Quinn, Domhnaill Flynn, Adam Reynolds, Pearce Dolan, Donal Wrynn (0-02, 1 ‘mark’), Darragh Rooney (0-03), Evan Sweeney (0-01), Paul Keaney, Aidan Flynn (1-00), Keith Beirne (0-03, 2f), Mark Plunkett
Subs: Conor Farrell for Adam Reynolds (21), Jack Heslin for Domhnaill Flynn (36), Tom Prior (0-1) for Darragh Rooney (46), Barry McNulty (1-01, 0-01 ‘mark’) for Evan Sweeney (50), James Rooney for Mark Plunkett (60)
Sligo: Daniel Lyons, Nathan Mullen, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons, Luke Towey (0-1), Brian Cox, Paul McNamara, Paul Kilcoyne (0-1), Cian Lally (0-1), Finnian Cawley (0-2), Sean Carrabine (0-3, 1f, 1 ‘45’), Keelan Cawley, Pat Spillane (1-2), Patrick O’Connor (0-4, 1f), Niall Murphy (0-1, 1f)
Subs: David Quinn for Keelan Cawley (50), Mikey Gordon for Pat Spillane (57), Mark Walsh for Brian Cox (57), Alan Reilly for Patrick O’Connor (62), Luke Nicholson for Evan Lyons (70+1)
Referee: Martin McNally (Monaghan)
