Sligo needed a better second-half display, sparked by Alan McLoughlin's 38th-minute goal, to set up a six-point defeat of an enterprising Wexford outfit at a sun-blasted Markievicz Park in the Tailteann Cup.
McLoughlin was outstanding for the winners, scoring 1-05, with Sean Carrabine contributing 0-06 for the home side. Wexford’s leading scorer was Glen Malone, who bagged 1-02, as the visitors threatened an upset as they led at the break.
In sunny and warm conditions at a Sligo town venue looking extra picturesque in such splendid weather, both sides were looking for redemption for different reasons.
The hosts were unlucky not to topple Galway just a few weeks previously in the Connacht semi-final at this venue, while Wexford were beaten in the Leinster quarter-final by eventual finalists Louth.
Sligo were favourites, as one of the competition’s top four seeds, and their two most recent meetings with Wexford in the Allianz Football League in 2022 and 2023 had also gone the way of Tony McEntee’s outfit.
The hosts, still without Luke Towey and Pat Spillane through injury, fell behind to a sixth-minute point from the excellent Kevin O’Grady.
Sligo then took charge and dominated the next six minutes to establish a five-point lead - 1-03 to 0-01.
Sean Carrabine, Alan McLoughlin and Paul McNamara found the target with points and the big score was a 12th minute three-pointer from Mikey Gordon, who goaled with a powerful low shot from a Patrick O’Connor pass.
Sligo appeared in charge but Wexford made a game of it by hitting back with an unanswered 1-02.
Wind-assisted Wexford’s goal followed a turnover from a Sligo kickout and Dylan Furlong netted from Mark Rossiter’s pass.
From then on it was tit-for-tat as Wexford grew into the game, with Kevin O’Grady a threat, while Sligo had lots of possession but didn’t get talisman Niall Murphy on the scoreboard – four of their seven points in that first-half came from defenders.
A stoppage time converted free from Sean Nolan, his third of the game, gave Wexford a one-point lead at half-time - 1-08 to 1-07.
Sligo, with the breeze for the second-half, looked to have their work cut out for them when Wexford pointed almost immediately – Mark Rossister hit the first of his three second-half scores.
Then Alan McLoughlin stepped up by scoring a vital 1-01. His goal was made by Niall Murphy and the centre-forward showed composure from close-range to get the Yeats County in front and motoring.
Sligo were a different side following McLoughlin’s goal as another one of their outstanding forwards, Sean Carrabine, began to impact.
Carrabine was denied a goal after 52 minutes when his low shot came off the post – this came four minutes after Sligo suffered a scare at the other end when Sean Nolan’s flick went over the crossbar.
A series of superb points kept Sligo in control – Patrick O’Connor, Sean Carrabine and Alan McLoughlin were on target – as Wexford missed a big chance when substitute Conor Kinsella broke through only to shoot wide after being put off by a Brian Cox challenge.
With six minutes of normal time to go Wexford made things interesting when Glen Malone goaled from a pass by Jack Higgins.
This goal cut the difference to three points, 2-17 to 2-14, and there was another heart-stopping moment for the home side when Glen Malone’s goal effort cracked the crossbar and came back into play.
Sligo survived and added further points to see off Wexford’s brave challenge – the best of these Sligo scores came from Sean Carrabine and Brian Cox.
The winners finished with 14 players due to a black card in stoppage time for Canice Mulligan.
Sligo: Aidan Devaney, Evan Lyons, Eddie McGuinness (0-1), Paul McNamara (0-1), Brian Cox (0-1), Darragh Cummins (0-2), Nathan Mullen (0-1), Paul Kilcoyne, Canice Mulligan, Cian Lally (0-1), Alan McLoughlin (1-5), Sean Carrabine (0-6, 4f, 1 '45’), Mikey Gordon (1-0), Patrick O’Connor (0-2), Niall Murphy (0-1)
Subs: Mark Walsh for Cian Lally, 57; Peter Laffey for Paul Kilcoyne, 63; Keelan Cawley for Mikey Gordon, 67; Lee Deignan for Patrick O’Connor, 71
Wexford: Rory Tubritt, Eoin Porter, Gavin Sheehan, Darragh Lyons, Dylan Furlong (1-0), Paraic Hughes (0-1), Glen Malone (1-2), Liam Coleman, Niall Hughes, Kevin O’Grady (0-2), Eoghan Nolan (0-1), Mark Rossiter (0-3), Liam O’Connor, Sean Nolan (0-5, 3f), Cathal Walsh
Subs: Richie Waters for Cathal Walsh, 48; Conor Kinsella for Darragh Lyons, 48; Graham Staples for Liam O’Connor, 57; Ben Brosnan (0-1) for Eoghan Nolan, 62; Jack Higgins for Kevin O’Grady, 62
Referee: Seamus Mulhare (Laois)
