Sligo still reaching for glory after successful campaign
With impressive facilities and talented players, Daragh Small reports on a club going places
RFC
PROMOTION to Division 2B of the All-Ireland League was seen as a breakthrough for Sligo RFC last season. But the results of their massive hard work throughout the various age-groups had already been felt throughout Connacht and further afield. Sligo have been one of Connacht’s biggest contributors to Irish underage rugby, and after Conan O’Donnell, Cillian Gallagher, Stephen Kerins and Matthew Cosgrove made their mark for the Ireland U-20s, prop Kuba Wojtkowicz looks like the next exciting prospect. Summerhill College and Sligo Grammar School are the two major nurseries, but everything feeds back into the club. And new president, Des Cosgrove, is desperate for more and more volunteers to join up during his year in charge. “We have been a very good feeder club for the likes of Connacht,” said Cosgrove. “We have Kuba in the academy, he has got his first Irish cap, there’s Ryan Feehily, we have Stephen Kerins, Cillian Gallagher, Conan O’Donnell. Sligo had three representatives on the Connacht team that won in Limerick a couple of weeks ago. “We are up there with the best of them. We have made significant inroads in the last eight or nine years. We are very strong from that point of view.” Cosgrove has been involved at Hamilton Park ever since his family moved from Cork to Sligo, where he opened a Centra store in Maugheraboy 14 years ago. His son Matthew quickly joined ranks with the local rugby team and contributed to some big successes over the years. Matthew went on to play his way into national selection and the Connacht academy before a serious knee injury cut short his stay. But he made a great recovery to continue his career back at Sligo last season. Knockmore native Des retained his interest in the club too and after years involved in managerial and coaching positions, he was asked to become the club’s president last year. But he could not take them up on the offer. “I was vice-president last year. Anyone that volunteers in Sligo RFC, they will always have a job for you. I was asked to do it last year but I couldn’t because I was asked to wait on as senior manager,” said Cosgrove. “I felt that it’s always nice to give someone else the space to move into a differen Kuba Wojtkowicz t role. All of the management team moved on from the senior team once we got them promoted. “A fantastic bunch of lads have taken over there. I was asked would I take the president this year, and I am delighted to.” Sligo begin their 2018-19 All-Ireland League campaign with a trip to Cork, where they face Sunday’s Well on September 29.
Success
Last season was one of unprecedented success. Sligo dominated Division 2C with 11 wins from 18 games, which meant they finished top, and five points clear of both Omagh and Thomond. Sligo will join Corinthians from the Tuam Road in Galway, in the fourth tier this season, and it’s exciting times for everyone who has put in the hard work and effort. “We have some challenges because we lost a good chunk of the team last year. One or two retired and a lot of lads went away. Some of them went back to New Zealand and Australia,” said Cosgrove. “It’s also a challenge because a chunk of our team is away for most of the week. Getting them back is tough going. But we should be able to com- pete. We should be up near the top. “We are still cutting through some cloth to find out our best team. We have been blooding some fellas as well. Bearing all of that in mind, we should be well up there. “There is a very good man-management team here, Paddy Pearson is our senior coach, he is a very capable guy, Jason East there has a lot of experience as well. “These guys are capable of delivering a good standard for those players to work off.” Cosgrove is thrilled to be the one who oversees another year of progression, where Sligo will hopefully consolidate their place in Division 2B, or even push for another brilliant promotion. Sligo continue to perform admirably in the All-Ireland League, as well as at underage level where they have been able to generate wonderful talent, for the future of Connacht Rugby and Ireland. Their home at Hamilton Park is ever-improving and boasts an impressive astro-turf pitch that caters for all weather conditions, but Cosgrove is determined to keep the club pointed in the right direction and get new projects started and completed in 2018-19. “I am just a month in. It’s very different to what I was involved in up until this,” he continues. “I was involved as senior manager for a number of years. I was hands on and involved in the day-to-day, and coaching. You are more meet and greet and driving club policy. I am involved in the executive side of it. “But I love every minute of it. It’s a fantastic club. It’s a real family club. It has got a great camaraderie. I have made a lot of friends for life. “If anyone is to look at our club today, what we have achieved in the last 70 or 80 years has been phenomenal, but in the last three years it has been huge with the new astro-turf.
Sligo continue to perform admirably in the All-Ireland League, as well as at underage level
“That has been massive foresight from the committee. We have fantastic sponsors from all around the county. “During the year I want to see the new club dressing rooms, and the new club facilities started. I would love to embrace everything. “It’s the year of the volunteer. I would love to see our volunteers, in terms of getting more involved in our club. We will try and get new blood into the club. “When you look back over the history of the club, there is a drain on a number of individuals. It’s never a closed book for people to enter. One of the key things for me is to bring new people in. That brings in new ideas and different ways of fundrais-