Sligo 0-12 Offaly 0-11:MARK BREHENY scored four points as Sligo struggled to the narrowest of wins at Markievicz Park.

Late points by sub Seán Davey and Kenneth Sweeney gave the home side the edge as Offaly failed to reproduce their first-half form. Niall McNamee, who notched five of the visitors’ scores, threatened to take Sligo apart in the first half.

But a couple of late points by Alan Costello and Stephen Gilmartin put Sligo 0-8 to 0-7 ahead at half-time. Alan Lynam brought Offaly level before a superb point by McNamee gave the visitors the lead. But Sligo stepped up a gear as the half progressed as Offaly’s scoring touch deserted them.

SLIGO:P Greene; C Harrison, N McGuire, R Donovan; N Ewing, M Quinn, J Davey; T Taylor (0-1), S Gilmartin (0-1); A Costello (0-1), M Breheny (0-4, three frees), K Sweeney (0-2); S Coen (0-1), D Kelly (0-1), G Gaughan. Subs: B Kennedy for McGuire (34 mins), E O'Hara for Coen (41 mins), S Davey (0-1) for Costello (46).

OFFALY:A Mulhall; C Kiely, S Pender, B Darby (0-1); P McConway, R Dalton, S Lonergan; J Coughlan, C McManus (0-1); A Lynam, S Brady, S Ryan; D Egan (0-1), J Reynolds (0-3), N McNamee (0-5, one free). Subs: A Sullivan for Ryan (31 mins); N Coughlan for Egan (43); P Sullivan for Brady (62); N Dunne for Lynam (66); S Sullivan for Reynolds (66 mins).

Referee:F Flynn (Leitrim).