Sligo catch fire in the second half to see off Wicklow at Aughrim

Sligo's much improved second-half saw them take the spoils at Aughrim’s Echelon Park for their first win of this year’s Allianz Football League campaign.

A six-point defeat of an eventually outclassed Wicklow revives Sligo’s promotion hopes as this vital result for the Connacht county saw them shoot 12 second-half points to turn things around in the south-east.

The home side, relegated from Division Three last year having won just one of their seven games, had drawn their opening round fixture away to 14-man Carlow.

Sligo were equally hungry for a result as they has been humbled by promotion favourites Laois on day one, losing 2-11 to 0-11 at Markievicz Park.

An interesting subplot to proceedings at scenic Aughrim was the fact that the respective managers - Wicklow’s Oisin McConville and Sligo’s Tony McEntee - were former team-mates with Crossmaglen Rangers and Armagh.

What turned out to be a tit for tat, closely-fought encounter began with Sligo taking the lead through a pointed free from Sean Carrabine, the first of three pointed frees for the attacker in the opening half.

The best goal chance of the opening 35 minutes then fell to Carrabine, who lashed a shot into the side netting after adroitly making space for himself following a Niall Murphy pass.

Eoin Darcy’s equaliser for Wicklow – also a pointed free – was only the second score of the first 15 minutes. Sligo, playing better here than they did against Laois, went 0-04 to 0-02 up by the 22nd minute following points from Patrick O’Connor and Sean Carrabine.

The Garden County, for whom inside forwards Mark Kenny and Kevin Quinn were especially lively, outscored their visitors during the remainder, 0-5 to 0-2.

Kevin Quinn bagged a hat-trick of excellent points and