Sligo earned their second win in Division 3 of the Allianz Football League after seeing off Limerick on a 1-12 to 0-10 scoreline at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.
Tony McEntee's men were full value for their victory over a Limerick side that have now lost all three games after dropping to the league’s third tier this year.
Paul McNamara’s first half goal proved crucial to Sligo’s victory with their full forward line landing eight of their 12 points.
It took just 60 seconds for Sligo to grab a hold of the game thanks to a Patrick O’Connor score and the same man doubled their advantage soon after.
Peter Nash got Limerick on the board with a seventh minute free but a Sean Carrabine placed ball soon had Sligo back in front by two.
Pat Spillane then got in on the act to put his side 0-04 to 0-01 in front with a well-worked point from play.
Limerick struggled to get going but an excellent Colm McSweeney score cut the deficit to two with 16 minutes played.
Carrabine and Tommie Childs then traded blows before Barry Coleman made it a one-point game after excellent work from Paul Maher.
The home side were well in the contest at this stage but were dealt a major blow when McNamara struck for the only goal of the game.
Eoghan Smith’s delivery was brilliantly guided into McNamara’s path by Niall Murphy and the corner back provided a cool finish to the net to put Sligo four points up.
On the stroke of half time, Murphy added to Sligo’s advantage with an excellent score that saw his side 1-07 to 0-05 clear.
Limerick made a positive start to the second half with Peter Nash landing two points but they were unable to get another score between the 41st and 66th minute as Sligo took full control.
Murphy and Carrabine were always a danger up front and a ’45 from Aidan Devaney had Sligo six points ahead with 20 minutes to play.
Jimmy Lee’s Limerick side were unable to create any real goal chance that would have got them back into the game and it was Sligo that ran out comfortable winners.
Limerick: A O’Sullivan; J Liston, S O’Dea, P Maher; B Coleman (0-01), I Corbett, C Fahy; T Childs (0-02), T Griffin; C Downes, B Childs, C McSweeney (0-01); P Nash (0-04, 3f), J Naughton, J Hayes.
Subs: J Baynham for Hayes (h-t), E Rigter for Griffin (50), S Costello for Naughton (67), E Hurley (0-02, 1f) for Nash (68, inj).
Sligo: A Devaney (0-01, ’45); P McNamara (1-00), E McGuinness, E Lyons; B Cox, D Cummins, N Mullen; C Lally, P Kilcoyne; P O’Connor (0-02), A McLaughlin (0-01), E Smith; P Spillane (0-02), S Carribine (0-03, 2f), N Murphy (0-03, 2f)
Subs: M Gordon for Smith (h-t), L Towey for Mullen (50), K Cawley for O’Connor (57), D Condon for Spillane (65), L Deignan for McLaughlin (70).
Referee: C Maguire (Clare).
