Sligo are Allianz National Football League Division Four champions following victory over Wicklow yesterday evening.

As the rain came down on Croke Park for the curtain raiser to the third division final, this game was billed highly as the 'battle of Cross' as former Crossmaglen team mates Oisin McConville and Tony McEntee were in charge of Wicklow and Sligo respectively.

Wicklow started off the better, going four points to nil up, with Kevin Quinn scoring twice.

Five separated the sides when Eddie McGuinness was black carded after 27 minutes, reducing Sligo to 14 men.

However, Sligo responded well to the set back, as Niall Murphy added his third point shortly after before scoring the game's opening goal.

Luke Towey made a trademark bursting run forward, before squaring the ball to Murphy who palmed to the net.

Wicklow lead at the break, 0-8 to 1-3.

Cian Lally and Sean Carrabine brought Sligo back to within a point, before they took the lead for the first time on 43 minutes.

The Yeats men broke through the Wicklow rearguard once again, Carrabine to the fore this time, before midfielder Paul Kilcoyne slotted home off his left foot to put Sligo 2-5 to 0-9 ahead.

Quinn and Eoin Darcy kept Wicklow in touching distance, either side of an elegant curling effort from Pat Spillane Junior kept Sligo ahead.

Nathan Mullen pointed late on for Sligo, and despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Mark Jackson and substitute Cian O'Sullivan, Wicklow couldn't catch Sligo who held out for a two point win.

1-4 for captain Niall Murphy, who also picked up the TG4 Laoch na hImeartha award.

Next for Sligo is a trip to Ruislip next weekend for the Connacht quarter final meeting with London.

 

Full time score from Croke Park:

Sligo 2-10 (16) Wicklow 0-14