Athlone IT defeat Sligo to book place in Sigerson Cup semi finals

Athlone IT survived the concession of a late goal to book their place in the semi-finals of the Sigerson Cup with this minimum margin victory over IT Sligo at Ballyforan on Wednesday. With AIT holding a 1-9 to 0-8 lead as the game went into injury-time, IT Sligo midfielder David Givney fisted the ball to the AIT net in the 62nd minute. However, the final whistle was blown as soon as the resulting kick-out was taken. A 37th minute goal from Offaly's John Reynolds had given Athlone the impetus to kick on for the winning post. And with Cavan's Raymond Galligan in fine scoring form, the Athlone side had that four-point advantage with time running out. Athlone IT will now face UCC in the semi-finals in the Sigerson Cup weekend at Maynooth on Friday, February 26. After a somewhat scrappy first half, the sides were on level terms at half-time (0-3 apiece), with all of AIT's points coming from frees. With Sligo inter-county star Jonathan Davey in impressive form, the Connacht side made the better start. Points by Sean Kelly and Danny Cummins gave Sligo a two-point lead by the eighth minute. AIT didn't open their account until the 20th minute through Raymond Galligan (free), before Sligo's Stephen Coen pointed a free although his shot looked suspiciously wide. Galligan landed a free from over 45 metres and AIT midfielder Ger Dennigan then drew the sides level, converting a free from much closer to goal. Early second-half points by David Givney and Danny Cummins saw Sligo go ahead by 0-5 to 0-4, before Reynolds struck for that all-important goal, the Offaly man reacting quickest to a rebound and finishing the ball to the net. Eoin McHugh (IT Sligo) and David Egan raised white flags at either end, before Galligan came to the fore with two points from play. Scores by Alan Freeman (free) and Stephen Coen reduced the deficit to two points, but Galligan replied with another brace. And by the time Givney struck, it was too late for Sligo to force extra-time. SCORERS - Athlone IT: R Galligan 0-7 (3f, 1 45'); J Reynolds 1-0; D Egan 0-1; G Dennigan 0-1f. IT Sligo: D Givney 1-1; D Cummins 0-2; S Coen 0-2 (1f); S Kelly, E McHugh 0-1 each; A Freeman 0-1f. ATHLONE IT: G Connaughton; James Reynolds, D Masterson, S Higgins; M Mitchell, D Considine, K Smyth; B Connor, G Dennigan; P Doherty, D Egan, C Blake; F Burke, R Galligan, John Reynolds. Subs: D Reilly for Considine; A Burke for Doherty; M McCallon for James Reynolds; N Judge for Egan; IT SLIGO: A Faherty; K Cawley, D Reynolds, S Boyle; J Davey, G Reynolds, C Greene; D Givney, E Keating; G Gaughan, A Freeman, S Kelly; S Coen, S Henry, D Cummins. Subs: E McHugh for Kelly; S Ryder for McHugh. REFEREE: D Fahy (Longford).