Sloyan praises endeavour of the squad that made history
Sligo U-20 boss is proud of “great bunch of lads” following their Connacht achievement against Mayo
GIVEN the deluge of congratulations, handshakes, hugs, more hugs, more handshakes and more hugs, it is a wonder that Dessie Sloyan, the Sligo U-20 manager, got out of Markievicz Park at all last Wednesday evening.
Indeed, but for an enthralling late, late show from Sloyan’s charges, including precious goals from Eoghan Smith and Jack
Lavin, scores which secured a 4-4 to 1-12 win over Mayo, Sligo wouldn’t have left the Sligo town venue as victors.
Because this was Sligo’s firstever Eirgrid Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship title, there will never be another final like this one.
As a county player, Sloyan kicked eight points for Sligo in a famous win over Kildare at Croke Park 21 years ago. As a club manager he guided his native Easkey to an All-Ireland Club Junior Football Championship final in 2019.
But this was different. In his third year as Sligo U-20 boss, Sloyan – for years a star player with the Sea Blues in west Sligo – has achieved what no other manager in this grade (it was previously U-21) has done since the mid-1960s.
Backed by an adept management team, which includes Eamonn O’Hara and ex-rugby professional turned sports performance coach Cathal Sheridan, Sloyan also had his playing experience to draw on. As an U-21 player he was a Connacht runner-up with Sligo back in the mid-1990s when Paul Clarke was in charge. The winning manager, whose post-match verdict was interspersed by well-wishers, said that the players fully deserved to have finally climbed the summit. “I’m delighted for them because they’ve put so much work in, so much effort. “For some of them it is their second year, others have done three years at this level –
Joe Keaney,
Jack
BELOW: Members of the Sligo U-20 panel with the JJ Fahy Cup. RIGHT: Sligo U-20 manager Dessie Sloyan, who hailed the panel’s work-rate.