Sligo and Donegal both suffered opening weekend defeats in the ladies leagues as well.
Donegal lost by 2-5 to 0-7 to All-Ireland champions Dublin in Letterkenny, while Sligo lost by just a point, 0-13 to 2-6, away to Clare.
MATCH REPORT
Clare 0-13 Sligo 2-06
Round 1 Lidl NFL
Clare castle Gaa Ground
Ref Kevin O’Brien
Five point from Ailish Considine helped Clare to a one point win over a new look Sligo in Clare castle in round one of the Lidl NFL.
Sligo manager Paddy Henry made the trip to Clare with for their first outing since losing the All Ireland S/F to Tyrone last August. It was a new look Sligo with only 7 of the 15 that started that game with Tyrone starting.
The Sligo ladies team that took on Clare.
Sligo opened the scoring with a well taken point from Laura Ann Laffey in the 4th minute but it was Clare who showed to be the stronger of the sides in the opening 15 minutes when they led by four point to one.
The first goal of the game went to Sligo when Sarah Reynolds make a great run thought the Clare back line she laded it off to Sinead Naughton who calmly place the ball to the back of the net. Sligo added three more points two from Katie Walsh (1F) and a well taken point from Sarah Reynolds which left Sligo ahead on a score line of 1-4 to 0-04. Ailish Considine put over two more points as the half came to a close to cut Sligo’s lead to a point at the break.
Both managers made a change at HT Clare brought on Niamh O’Dea while Sligo seen Elaine O’Reilly replace Aimee Cawley for the second half. It was Clare that started the better of the sides hitting 6 unanswered points 2 from Niamh O’Dea Three off the boot of Ailish Considine and one each from Catriona Callinan & Emma McMahon before Sligo got their second goal of the game from Sarah Reynolds. Both sides had a player in the sinbin in the second half Denise McGrath for Sligo and Ailish Considine for Clare. Sligo pulled level in the last five minute’s thought a Katie Walsh free and a first point from Louise Merrick on her debut for Sligo. Clare hit back with a O’Dea point with less than a minute to play, Sligo did have one last chance when they were awarded a free kick just outside the 13m line unfortunately it was placed wide of the mark given Clare all three points.
Sligo’s Sinead Naughton goes on the attack.
Speaking after the game Sligo Manager Paddy Henry said he was very pleased with his team’s effort saying no one gave his team a chance coming down here today the girls showed serious guts and heart and that’s all I can ask of them.
Sligo welcome Tyrone in round 2 next Sunday in Collooney at 2pm.
