Sligo 3-21
New York 0-6

New York's maiden victory in the Connacht SFC seems as far away as ever after this 24-point trouncing from Sligo in front of 3,000 spectators at Gaelic Park last night.

Stephen Coen and Adrian Marren scored 2-10 between them as Kevin Walsh's men recorded the easiest of victories to set up a semi-final meeting with either Galway or Roscommon in five weeks' time. While New York's participation in the Connacht SFC has been assured for another four years, many will be questioning their involvement in the championship on the evidence of this display.

Fielding four home-grown players, they were ill-prepared and were completely outclassed by visitors, who could afford the luxury of keeping former All Star Eamonn O'Hara on the bench. In David Kelly's absence, corner forward Marren helped himself to 2-4 from play, with his first goal arriving after just 12 minutes following a handling error by the Exiles' Armagh-born goalkeeper Alan Hearty.

CJ Molloy, son of manager Connie, opened New York's account in the 20th minute before a brace of Marren points eased the visitors into a 1-5 to 0-1 lead. Further scores from Coen (two) and wing back Paul McGovern ensured Sligo of a 1-10 to 0-3 interval lead, with Eoghan Carew and Molloy replying at the other end for the fading home side.

A Carew free reduced the margin to nine points on the restart, but it was one-way traffic after that as the Yeatsmen took complete control. Tony Taylor and Mark Breheny - who was facing New York in the championship for a third time - kicked three points between them before Alan Costello sent over a long-range free.

Sligo corner back and team captain Ross Donavan put his name on the scoresheet before Pat Hughes grabbed a second goal seven minutes from the end. And New York's misery was complete when Coen capped a magnificent display with the visitors' third goal just before full-time.

Sligo - P Greene; N Ewing, N McGuire, R Donavan (0-1); C Harrison, M Quinn, P McGovern (0-1); T Taylor (0-1), S McManus (0-1); B Egan (0-1), P Hughes (1-1), A Costello (0-1); S Coen (2-4), A Marren (0-6), M Breheny (0-3). Subs: E Mullen (0-1) for Taylor, J Davey for Harrison, D Maye for Marren, K Cawley for McGovern, J Clarke for Costello.

New York - A Hearty; P Lambe, D O'Dwyer, R McGinley; C Hogan, Sean Kelly (Leitrim), C Short; MJ Kennedy, E Carew (0-3); S Kinahan, E Hogan, S Hogan; D Reilly, CJ Molloy (0-2), D Moore. Subs: M Kennedy for Kinahan, C Conlon for S Hogan, S Stokes for Short, Sean Kelly (0-1, Kerry) for E Hogan, R Stafford for Reilly.

Ref - E Kinsella (Laois). Tweet

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