Sligo 1-21

London 1-11

Adrian Marren netted a first half penalty as Sligo avoided a potential banana skin by easing to victory over London in the opening round of the Connacht SFC at sunny Ruislip.

The experienced full forward finished with 1-6 as the Yeats County atoned for their shock defeat to the Exiles at the same venue five years ago. Ten other Sligo players were on target as they advanced to a semi-final meeting with the winners of next Sunday's huge clash between Mayo and Galway in Castlebar.

London, whose attack included five home-grown players, lacked the cutting edge needed to trouble the visitors who never looked back after Marren slotted home a 24th minute penalty after Gavin McEvoy had fouled wing-back Gerard O'Kelly-Lynch in the danger area.

That goal propelled Cathal Corey's charges into a nine-point lead, but a goal from Monaghan's Fearghal McMahon at the other end ensured the hosts only trailed by seven points, 1-3 to 1-10, at the break.

London resumed by scoring the first three points of the second half, but a black card for veteran Mark Gottsche scuppered their comeback hopes as Sligo pulled clear in the final quarter with subs Sean Carrabine and Stephen Coen each notching a brace of points.

Sligo - A Devaney (0-1f); R Donovan, E McHugh (0-1), C Harrison; G O'Kelly Lynch, A McIntyre, N Ewing; K McDonnell, N Murphy (0-2); C Henry (0-3), P O'Connor (0-1), P Hughes (0-1); L Gaughan (0-1), A Marren (1-6, 1-0pen, 0-1f), Kyle Cawley. Subs: C Breheny (0-1) for P O'Connor, S Carrabine (0-2) for P Hughes, S Coen (0-2) for Kyle Cawley, F Cawley for C Henry, D Cummins for N Murphy.

London - G McEvoy; P Butler, C Dunne, D Carrabine; M Walsh, M Mangan, P Begley; A McDermott, M Gottsche (0-1); A Moyles, L Gavaghan (0-5, 2f), T Waters; R Elliott (0-1), F McMahon (1-1), K Butler. Subs: L Irwin (0-2, 1f) for K Butler, C Murphy for A Moyles, M Carroll for M Gottsche (BC), C O'Neill for C Dunne (BC), G Byrne for M Walsh, E Murray (0-1) for D Carrabine.

Referee - B Cassidy.

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