Murphy savours special atmosphere as Sligo prepare for busy few weeks

Leitrim and Sligo games are taking on a life of their own as the two counties again produced an epic encounter on Sunday in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada with the Yeatsmen again taking the honours on a 1-15 to 2-11 scoreline.

Judging from the sounds of celebration coming from the Sligo dressing room, it was a win deeply savoured as key attacker Niall Murphy told the Leitrim Observer after the game: “There was a great atmosphere, we love playing Leitrim because it brings out a great crowd. We’re just delighted, we’d have taken anything - a draw or a win today.”

The two counties have produced some great encounters in recent years with a bumper crowd in Pairc Sean probably exceeding the crowd that witnessed the Tailteann Cup quarter-final last year. But with so much on the line in terms of promotion, Niall was not surprised by the huge turnout: “There is probably more on the line and the atmosphere that was here last year lent itself to it. We’re just delighted to get out of Division 4.”

Sligo break Leitrim hearts after final quarter comeback falls just short

LEITRIM 2-11 SLIGO 1-15

Leitrim’s ferocious finishing burst almost ended Sligo’s hopes of promotion, making it a very nervy finish for the visitors: “Maybe we got a little too comfortable, we went eight up at one stage and the nerves there at the end were shot but fair play to Leitrim. It is like last year there in the Tailteann Cup that went to extra-time and we were probably lucky there again that it wasn’t a drawn game.”

The entire aim of the year was to gain promotion after a couple of near misses in recent years: “We got to ten points last year and we wanted to go a step or two further this year - we knew if we got to 11 points, we’d go up. Look, we’re in Croker next week and we’d like to get another win and get a trophy under our belts.”

It means a very busy schedule for Niall and his teammates with a trip to Emerald McGovern Park in Ruislip just a week later to face London in the opening round of the Connacht Championship but Niall hopes that both counties can prevail on their foreign adventures if it sets up another match like we saw last Sunday.

Fans treated to another Leitrim Sligo thriller in Pairc Sean sunshine - GALLERY

Another thrilling if heartbreaking chapter in the Leitrim and Sligo saga was written before a packed Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Sunday as the Yeatsmen held off a furious Green & Gold rally to secure promotion to Division 3 at the end of a thrilling 1-15 to 2-11 encounter. Observer photographer Willie Donnellan was a busy man snapping photos of fans engrossed in the action ..... see who you can spot!

“Hopefully - that’s the plan. Hopefully we get over London. Leitrim as well will have a tough task out in New York, I know they’d be lining Leitrim up as well but hopefully, we want to be back here in a few weeks again.

“It’d be great if Leitrim could get over the line and we’d have more atmosphere like that but there is a lot more football to be played before that happens.”