Sligo advanced to the Semi Finals of the Connacht Senior Football Championship, after a late flurry of points saw them 1-16 to 0-15 winners on the day at Gaelic Park.

A strong showing by Sean Carrabine in midfield as he managed 1-3 for the day, his goal crucial in Sligo's overall performance.

New York could have pulled off the shock win only for the late surge by Sligo, they were a joy to watch and having not played a competitive game in three years, they looked in phenomenal condition but their wait continues for a first win.

It was a tight opening few minutes between the teams but New York began the brighter. Daniel O’Sullivan and Adrian Varley gave New York a two point lead in the opening four minutes.

Carrabine got Sligo on the board after nine minutes, but within a five-minute spell they were level, Nathan Mullen with the point, after scores by Peter Fox and Patrick O’Connor.

Varley was on form early in the tie as he pointed on the 14th minute to make it 0-4 to 0-3, but again Sligo found a way back Patrick O’Connor levelled before Carrabine struck to the back of the net, making it 1-4 to 0-4 after 18 minutes.

Barry Gorman further increased the Sligo lead but three points in a row, saw New York slowly come back into the tie trailing by a point, 1-5 to 0-7. 

Carrabine and Niall Murphy pulled them back into a three point lead at the end of regulation time, but Niall Madine and Tiernan Mathers added late points to leave it a one point margin at the break, 1-8 to 0-10.

It remained a tight competitive game after the restart, Carrabine and Madine exchanged frees, before Keelan Cawley and Niall Murphy had them ahead 1-11 to 0-11 by the 53rd minute.

Varley helped pull them within one point by the 58th minute, he scored two back to back points before Madine levelled after the hour mark, New York never down for too long in this end to end affair.

Madine again had to be accurate from the frees, cancelling out a Conor Griffin effort as we neared the final four minutes of normal time. 

Sligo finished with great experience and leadership, Murphy punishing New York with two frees before the clock ticked into the red, to lead 1-14 to 0-15.

New York threw everything at it late on with Varley being shown a black card for a challenge, up stepped goalkeeper Aidan Devaney who landed a long range kick to push the lead to three.

Goals could never come for the hosts, hitting the upright numerous times and having chances go straight to the opposition defence instead of their own men, they could not get the killer blow and find the net to take the win.

Patrick O’Connor finishing off their late four point swing in the 75th minute with a well taken point, which sees them take on Roscommon in the Semi Finals on Sunday May 1st.