Two late points from Sean Carrabine got nervy Sligo over the line in a close Allianz Football League Division 3 encounter with Wicklow at Markievicz Park, after Tony McEntee's side failed to kick on from two first-half goals that gave them a six-point lead after 14 minutes.
Wicklow, for whom Kevin Quinn was excellent, looked good for at least a draw as midfielder Dean Healy landed a brace of fine scores in the closing stages.
Both sides were looking to kickstart their respective campaigns after first round defeats the previous weekend – Sligo lost away to Clare by a point, a game they had two players sent off in, while Wicklow were beaten at home by promotion favourites Down.
There was also a subplot along the sideline as the managers, Sligo's McEntee and Wicklow’s Oisin McConville, were former teammates at club and county level with Crossmaglen Rangers and Armagh.
Sligo also had the edge over Wicklow in last year’s Allianz Football League bottom tier, beating them in the round robin phase and the Division Four decider at Croke Park.
In a swirling breeze Sligo seized the initiative from the off and bagged two early points, including a fine score from Eoghan Smith.
But Wicklow, dogged in defence and happy to get extra bodies back in an effort to clog Sligo’s running lines, were a point up in the 10th minute after three unanswered scores.
The game was turned on its head when Sligo blasted a quickfire 2-01 to go six points up with 14 minutes on the clock.
Goalkeeper Aidan Devaney lofted a point from 45 metres with a ground kick, then Sligo punished a poor kickout for their first goal when Pat Spillane set up Alan McLoughlin for a close-range finish.
Spillane was involved in Sligo’s second goal – he was fouled for the penalty kick that Niall Murphy crashed into the top corner.
Sligo, however, failed to build on this momentum as they only scored once more over the next 20 minutes – an McLoughlin point, Pat Spillane had a goal chance scrambled off the goal-line.
Wicklow kept going and their full-forward Quinn emerged as an outstanding outlet – he contributed five points in that opening period, with the visitors also fortunate that Sligo kicked six wides.
Sligo, who led 2-04 to 0-07 at half-time, were rocked within five minutes of the restart when Wicklow scored 1-01 to go a point up – their three-pointer coming from a goalmouth scramble as team captain Patrick O’Keane’s shot was deflected home.
The remainder of the second-half became a tense nip and tuck affair – neither side going more than a point up until Carrabine’s late brace.
Wicklow goalkeeper Shane Doyle made a fine save to deny Spillane with 14 minutes of normal time left.
A couple of big points from Wicklow midfielder Dean Healy kept their pot boiling and the second of these levelled matters in the 66th minute, 1-11 to 2-08.
Carrabine stepped up to rescue Sligo, firstly with a point after 66 minutes to put them ahead again and then the insurance score in additional time.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney (0-01, 1f); Paul McNamara, Eddie McGuinness, Evan Lyons; Brian Cox, Darragh Cummins, Nathan Mullen; Patrick O’Connor (0-01), Paul Kilcoyne; Alan McLoughlin (1-01), Eoghan Smith (0-01), Cian Lally (0-01); Pat Spillane, Sean Carrabine (0-03, 1f), Niall Murphy (c) (1-02, 2f)
Subs used: Mikey Gordon for Eoghan Smith (50), Keelan Cawley for Alan McLoughlin (67), Donal Conlon for Pat Spillane (67)
Wicklow: Shane Doyle; Tom Moran, Matt Nolan, Malachy Stone; Joe Prendergast, Patrick O’Keane (c) (1-00), Jacques McCall; Dean Healy (0-02), Craig Maguire; Oisin McGraynor (0-01, 1f), John Paul Nolan, Cathal Baker; Brian Nesbitt (0-01), Kevin Quinn (0-06, 3f), Gearoid Murphy (0-01)
Subs used: Jack Kirwan for Brian Nesbitt (h-t); Gavin Fogarty for Jacques McCall (h-t); Eoin Darcy for Oisin McGraynor (60); Conor Fee for John Paul Nolan (65)
Referee: Kieran Eannetta (Tyrone)
