ANTRIM 0-13 SLIGO 0-12

A POINT from a hotly disputed free with the last kick of the game denied Sligo what would have been a deserved share of the spoils against Antrim in the opening match in Division Three of the Allianz Football League at Casement Park, Belfast, on Saturday last.

After a poor first half performance, the Yeats County looked to have done enough to secure a draw when substitute, Colm Mcgee, slotted over a free three minutes into injury time to tie up the scores at twelve points each.

But a keenly contested and highly entertaining encounter produced one last moment of drama right at the death when Charlie Harrison was harshly adjudged to have delivered an illegal handpass and the ice-cool Thomas Mccann stepped up to dispatch a magnificent 50m free over the bar to snatch the points for the home side.

It was a cruel blow for Sligo - one that had echoes of the last match of last year's League campaign when Kildare struck for an injury time point to consign the Yeats County to relegation.

This time the defeat might not be so fatal but, even at this early stage of the campaign, it is important that Sligo bounce back as quickly as possible from this luckless setback.

With a number of debutants in their side, Sligo took a little while to settle and Antrim's physicality and direct football when playing with a strong wind in the first half caused the visitors endless problems.

The Ulster county led 0-6 to 0-5 at the break but they really should have been further in front as they had the lion's share of possession in the opening period and missed several good chances to establish a commanding lead.

To their credit, Sligo showed considerable improvement after the break, implementing their traditional running game to greater effect and picking off some well-crafted scores. The introduction of Colm Mcgee gave them added penentration up front and Padraig Clarke, another second half sub, also made a good impression.

With Adrian Marren a constant threat and Mark Breheny also quite lively in attack, Sligo began to prosper from the tireless effort of Eugene Mullen and Brendan Egan at midfield and, suddenly, it looked as if a welcome away win was on the cards.

Sligo built up a 0-10 to 0-7 lead by the 52nd minute and looked to be in a winning position. They couldn't sustain their momentum, however, and Antrim, roared on by a small but enthusiastic crowd, came storming back, firing over three unanswered points to level things up.

It was nip and tuck from there to the finish but just when it looked as if Sligo would emerge with at least a draw, Mccann came up with a stunning winning score.

Sligo were the authors of their own misfortune to a large degree in the first half, giving away far too much possession and generally allowing Antrim to dictate the pace of the game.

Points by Brian Neeson and Conor Murray got the Ulster side off to a perfect start before the impressive Marren opened Sligo's account with a well-taken 35m free in the 8th minute.

Michael Armstrong stretched Antrim's lead in the 12th minute but their failure to convert all their chances meant that Sligo were always in with a shout and points by Marren (free) and Breheny at the end of an excellent move squared things up by the 21st minute.

Points from frees by Paddy Cunningham and Mccann put Antrim 0-5 to 0-3 in front but once again Sligo hauled themselves back to equality with two points from Marren, the first a brilliant effort from play and the second from a free.

Debutant, Niall Murphy, went close to grabbing a goal for Sligo in the 34th minute but his effort flew inches wide before Antrim edged back in front just before the break, courtesy of a Mccann '45'

The Yeats County came out with renewed determination in the second half. Breheny reduced the deficit with a 30m free within three minutes of the restart and then Marren, at the end of a weaving run, picked off a superb score to give his side the lead for the first time.

Pat Hughes lobbed over a fine score minutes later and although Cunningham replied with a point for Antrim, Sligo continued to make most of the running. Two points in succession by Mcgee stretched their advantage to three, 0-10 to 0-7, and it looked as if they would go on to control the last quarter.

However, uanswered points from Kevin Brady, Sean Finch and Neeson brought Antrim right back into the game. Then Clarke and Mccann exchanged scores to leave the sides level at eleven points each.

Mccann sent over from a 30m free to restore Antrim's lead in the 35th minute but a sweeping Sligo move forced the concession of a free which Mcgee fired over in great style.

That should have been enough to ensure a draw for battling Sligo but Mccann's late score ensured that the Yeats' County went home empty-handed.