St Molaise Gaels are Sligo under-20 football champions for 2021 following a spirited 0-16 to 1-11 win over Ballymote/Bunninadden in an entertaining county ‘A’ championship final played at Kent Park on Sunday.
Molaise will thank their stand-in goalkeeper Paul Mullarkey, who saved a Ballymote/Bunninadden penalty in the closing moments of the game to keep the north Sligo men in front.
Willie Gormley’s side led by a point, 1-7 to 0-9 at half-time, with Oisín Gorman contributing 1-4 of that first-half tally.
However, Molaise eventually edged back in front in the second-half through points from Michael Langan and John Heraghty.
Substitute and county minor player Jack McGovern also contributed scores in the closing quarter – but the penalty save in the dying moments proved to be the decisive one as Molaise held on to win by two.
St Molaise manager Jimmy Langan praised both teams for a high quality final in difficult conditions:
The U20 B football final next weekend will be between Eastern Harps and Curry following their weekend semi-final victories.
Sligo U20 ‘A’ football final result
St Molaise Gaels 0-16 Ballymote/Bunninadden 1-11
U20 ‘B’ football semi-finals
Eastern Harps 1-17 Castleconnor 1-7
Curry 1-12 Drumcliffe/Rosses Point 1-4.
(Photo: Eamonn McMunn, Sligo GAA)
