Sligo promoted after huge battle with Leitrim

Sligo withstood a ferocious comeback from Leitrim to secured a one-point win and earn promotion to Division 3 of the Allianz Football League in a thriller at Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Although four points up at half-time, 0-09 to 0-05, and later eight points clear, 1-11 to 0-06, as a Pat Spillane goal helped give them a major lead, Sligo were pegged back by the Andy Moran-managed Leitrim who goaled through Barry McNulty and Aidan Flynn.

But Sligo, who only needed a draw to make the leap to the next tier, overturned a one-point deficit thanks to late points from Finnian Cawley and Sean Carrabine - scores that silenced the massive home support.

This was the latest instalment of the intense rivalry between these Connacht neighbours.

They met three times last year with Sligo winning all three clashes, including the intense Tailteann Cup quarter-final at this venue that Sligo won 4-3 on penalties.

Sligo came into this game on the back of a run of five successive wins since a disappointing opening round loss to Laois. A win or a draw would give Tony McEntee's side promotion.

Leitrim, just two points behind Sligo in the standings, knew that only victory would get them over the line and a superior score difference was an advantage if they were to end up level on points with Laois and Wicklow.

Leitrim’s start was explosive as they went three points up, 0-03 to 0-0, by the fourth minute.

Donal Wrynn, who converted a mark, Keith Beirne and Darragh Rooney were on target to lift the buoyant home support.

An early turning point was a seventh-minute goal chance for Leitrim. Leading scorer Keith Beirne fizzed a shot wide following a quickly-taken mark from Donal Wrynn.

Sligo, spurred by this let-off, reeled off