Boyle Celtic 0 Sligo Rovers 3

Last weekend's pre-season friendly in Celtic Park threw up memories (some good, some bad - depending on which team you have nailed your colours to) of Istanbul in 2005 when another team in red had a great six minutes in the second half, scoring three goals in the process.

Whilst a pre-season friendly in a very wet corner of Roscommon is far removed from the Champions League Final, it offered proof positive of just how far Boyle Celtic have progressed in junior football.

Currently top of both of the top two leagues in Sligo/Leitrim, the club now has the facilities in place to back up the playing side of the club - pivotal in bringing the reigning, back-to-back FAI Cup holders to our ground for their first pre-season friendly.

It rained all day and continued throughout the match but this was the only fixture completed on a grass pitch in Sligo/Leitrim over the weekend. Sligo brought 22 players with them and fielded two different elevens in each half.

Boyle held their own throughout the first half and might have taken the lead when Brian McCrann's shot from distance hit the post just after the half-hour mark, the Sligo keeper, Rogers, well beaten.

Sligo had threatening moments as well and Kyle Suffin in the home goal was called into action on more than one occasion. His best save came towards the end of the first half, acrobatically tipping a dipping shot onto the bar and over. Suffin was ably assisted by the home defence who were also in fine form, marshalled superbly by John Connolly and the ever-green Mick McHale.

Into the second half, and the damp conditions and incessant rain finally got to the Boyle lads and Sligo notched 3 goals, Boco in the 51st minute, Cretaro two minutes later and Greene completed the scoring in the 56th minute. Our fears the heavens would now open on the pitch, like they had from the skies, were unfounded as the home team re-grouped, made some substitutions and held their own for the rest of the match.

Boyle Celtic:- K Suffin (C Casey 83), J McCrann (C Harrington 69), M McHale, O O'Donohoe (J Kenny 81), J Connolly, M Corrigan (D Beggan 87), C McPadden (C Austin 76), B McCrann (L Roddy 61), D Carlos (A Duffy 69), L McKillen (C Brennan 74), A Calpin (J Carty 61).

Sligo Rovers:- G Rogers (R Brush 45), A Keane (M Owens 45), C McLoughlin (I Davoren 45), G Peers (J McGuinness 45), B McGarry (D Ventre 45), D Cawley (R Boco 45), J Dillon (M McGoldrick 45), S Maher (L Lynch 45), D North (R Cretaro 45), Salid (A Greene 45), R Gaynor (M Quigley 45).