The senior county sides of Cavan and Sligo continued their preparations for their respective provincial championship competitions when they met in a challenge game on Sunday, April 27th to mark the official opening of Shannon Gaels GFC redeveloped Park, Pairc Ghaeil na Sionnainne in Blacklion. Both sides fielded experimental sides on this occasion, and after a high-scoring and enjoyable encounter it was the reigning Connacht champions, Sligo who came out on top on a scoreline of 2-19 to 4-7. Both sides go into the championship campaign on the back of disappointing league campaigns which saw Cavan return to Division Three football next season, while Sligo will be playing their league football in the fourth division next season. Sligo dominated this game on Sunday from start to finish and at one stage in the game they were ahead by 11 points. The Breffni side came more into the game in the second-half after the Yeats county had led at the break by 0-9 to 2-2. The game saw the return to competitive action of the Cavan Gaels duo of defender, Darren Rabbitte and midfielder, Nicholas Walsh. However, Walsh retired from the action towards the end of the first-half to be replaced while Rabbitte's return will give the Breffni management some defensive options ahead of the Antrim game. Castlerahan's Sean Brady also made a return to county action in the full-forward line and contributed 2-4 to the Cavan sides tally. The Sligo side had the better of the third quarter and goals from Sean Davey and Gary Gaughan left them in a strong position leading by 2-11 to 2-2. The Breffni side finished the game strongly and reduced the leeway to five points at the finish. However, over the hour Sligo were the superior side and had the satisfaction of finishing the game with the final score of the game - a point from Daniel Davey. Cavan play Meath in their final challenge game before the Ulster senior football championship game with Antrim in Ashbourne on Sunday next at 6 p.m. when it is hoped that the Cavan management will be in a position to field a much stronger side, and go all out for a morale-boosting victory ahead of the Antrim game in the coming weeks. Cavan - James Carolan; Colm Hannon, Darren Rabbitte, Keith Fannin; Jonathan Crowe, Rory Dunne, Michael Brides; Michael McDonald (1-1), Nicholas Walsh; Anthony Forde, Raymond Cullivan, Martin Cahill; Cian Mackey (1-2), Sean Brady (2-2), Gerald Pearson. Subs - Lorcan Mulvey for Nicholas Walsh), Ronan Flanagan for Anthony Forde (half-time), Dermot Sheridan for Michael Brides, Eddie Reilly for Jonathan Crowe, John Cunningham (0-1) for Lorcan Mulvey, Jason Reilly (0-1) for Gerald Pearson, Declan Gaffney for Sean Brady. Sligo - Thomas Jordan; Jason Farrell, Niall Ewing, Pat Naughton; Ross Donovan, Eoin McHugh (0-1), Brendan Philips; Paul McGovern, Brendan Egan; Sean Davey (1-1), Gary Gaughan (1-2), Kenneth Sweeney; Daniel Davey (0-4), Eamonn Cawley (0-4) John. Davey (0-3), David Kelly (0-4). Subs - S. Henry for B. Egan, L. Bree for E. McHugh. Tweet

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