Cooleraa-Strandhill make history by retaining in Sligo

Coolera-Strandhill 0-08 St Molaise Gaels 0-07

Coolera-Strandhill have won back-to-back Sligo Senior Football Championships for the first time in their history following a one-point defeat of St Molaise Gaels, 0-08 to 0-07, in a cagey yet absorbing county final replay at Markievicz Park.

The winning captain Peter Laffey was his side's hero as he bagged two points from play in the last 11 minutes of normal time to scupper the dreams of St Molaise Gaels, who have never won the Owen B Hunt Cup.

The players and those in attendance appreciated the better weather conditions - there was a mist but no incessant rain compared to the drawn game.

The finalists’ respective top scorers, Niall Murphy (Coolera-Strandhill) and Alan McLoughlin (St Molaise Gaels), were again anticipated to play pivotal roles in this rematch.

Defending champions Coolera-Strandhill had reason to feel fortunate to have got a second bite at the cherry, given the fact that St Molaise Gaels wasted a stoppage time free to potentially win by a point,

Coolera-Strandhill showed their resilience by scoring three unanswered points to force a draw, 0-09 to 1-06, the previous weekend.

The holders looked assured from the off and they had two points on the board in the opening five minutes through Oran Harte and Ross O’Carroll.

St Molaise Gaels, who struggled to break down their organised opponents, were denied a certain in the 12th minute when Gerard Brady, who was found by Evan Farrell’s pass, was denied by Coolera-Strandhill goalkeeper Keelan Harte’s superb save.

Gerard Brady opened St Molaise Gaels’ account four minutes later with a fine point but Coolera-Strandhill continued to impress and they were 0-04 to 0-01 up by the 19th minute following points from Niall Murphy, who