Updated at 16.14
London 1-12
Sligo 0-14
LONDON SECURED A shock victory in the Connacht SFC in what was a thrilling game in Ruislip against Sligo – their first win in the competition since 1977.
London got off to a brilliant start when Lorcan Mulvey broke through for an early goal that propelled them into a 1-1 to 0-1 lead.
The Exlies added a further two points to stretch their advantage and at one stage they enjoyed a 1-4 to 0-1 lead.
Sligo were then denied a goal when Pat Hughes crashed a shot off the crossbar but Adrian Marren and Mark Breheny grabbed points soon after for Kevin Walsh’s men.
Mark Gottsche responded with a point for London before the home side then saw their effort for a second goal thwarted in the 31st minute.
Padraig McGoldrick – a Sligo native – saw his penalty effort saved by goalkeeper Philip Greene.
Sligo built on that boost with Breheny, Marren and Charlie Harrison all on target again before the break yet London were still ahead by four points.
McGoldrick then partially atoned for his penalty by scoring London’s first point of the second half to increase their lead, before Breheny responded for Sligo.
Further points, including one from the impressive Gottsche gave his side 1-10 to 0-6 lead.
However, they suffered a setback when McGoldrick was sent off for a second bookable offence. Sligo’s confidence increased following this incident, with Breheny and Hughes scoring further points to keep them in the game.
Harrison and James Kilcullen narrowed the gap even further, but Sean Kelly gave London some breathing space with his second score of the game.
Late points from Murphy, Harrison and Tony Taylor made it a one-point game in the dying seconds, before Breheny hit a wide and Pat Hughes struck the crossbar as the visitors attempted to draw level.
However, London ultimately held on for a historic victory, and will now meet Leitrim in the semi-final.
Additional reporting by Paul Fennessy
LONDON: Declan Traynor (Fulham Irish); Kevin Lynam (Heston Gaels), Stephen Curran (St Kiernan’s), David McGreevy (Kingdom Kerry Gaels) Seamus Hannon (Fulham Irish), Shane Mulligan (Fulham Irish), Tony Gaughan (Neasden Gaels); Mark Gottsche (Tir Chonaill Gaels), Paul Geraghty ( Neasden Gaels); Greg Crowley (Parnells), Lorcan Mulvey (Fulham Irish), Barry Mitchell (Tir Chonaill Gaels); Padraic McGoldrick (Heston Gaels), Ciaran McCallion (Kingdom Kerry Gaels), Cathal McGee ( Tir Chonaill Gaels).
SLIGO: Philip Greene (St John’s); Keelan Cawley (Coolera-Strandhill), Neil Ewing (Drumcliffe), Ross Donovan (Eastern Harps); Charlie Harrison (St John’s), Adrian McIntyre (Tourlestrane), Brian Curran (Tubbercurry); Stephen Gilmartin (Tubbercurry), Tony Taylor (Eastern Harps); Brendan Egan (Tourlestrane), Pat Hughes (Geevagh), Shane McManus (Geevagh); Mark Breheny (St Mary’s), Adrian Marren (Curry), Frankie Quinn (Shamrock Gaels).
