SPORT ROUND-UP
Higgins gets a cool €500 from Club Sligo draw
Paul Higgins was the big winner in the Club Sligo draw for January. In the January draw, which was held last Sunday at Markievicz Park during the half-time interval of the AFL Division Four fixture between Sligo and Laois, Higgins was the first name out of the hat for the top prize of €500. Higgins, a well-known Gaelic footballer with Shamrock Gaels, was part of the management team that guided Sligo to last year’s Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship title. The other winners in the Club Sligo January draw (each receiving €100) were as follows: Sligo Park Hotel; Stephen Carty, Kilmacowen; Stephen Regan, Drumcliffe; Rose Cawley, Kilmacowen; OfficePro.
Winger Gemma is moving on to Galway United
Donegal native Gemma McGuinness, who was Sligo Rovers’ second highest scorer in last season’s SSE Airtricity Women’s National League, has signed for the Bit O’Red’s Connacht rivals Galway United. Winger McGuinness, from Greencastle, Co. Donegal, netted seven times in 25 appearances for Rovers in what was their inaugural season in the top tier (which has now been rebranded as the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division).
Gaels are set to honour their underage teams
Shamrock Gaels GAA Club are holding an awards night for their underage section on Saturday week, February 11, at Riverstown Hall. Along with the annual Player of the Year awards across the various age groups (in Gaelic football and Ladies Football), the following winning teams from the 2022 season will be presented with their medals: Minor Ladies Football (Sligo LGFA U-18 ‘C’ Championship), U-16 Ladies Football (Sligo LGFA U-16 ‘B’ Championship), U-15 Gaelic Football (Sligo GAA U-15 ‘C’ Football Championship), Ladies Football U-14 (Sligo LGFA U-14 ‘A’ Shield) and U-13 Gaelic football (Sligo GAA
U-13 ‘A’ Shield). The event gets under way at 6pm.
Strand Celtic teens exit FAI competition
Strand Celtic are out of this season’s FAI Boys U-17 Cup. On Sunday last they lost 2-1 away to Waterford’s Tramore AFC in the competition’s fourth round (last 16). Thomas Kinane scored Strand’s goal.
FAI urges clubs to apply for SESS funding
Soccer clubs in the Sligo-Leitrim region can now apply for funding under the Sport Ireland ‘Sports Energy Support Scheme’ (SESS). A total of €1.2 million of funding is available for clubs throughout the Republic of Ireland – this cash will help clubs offset rising energy costs.
Clubs have until 6pm on Monday, February 20, to apply for funding – the Football Association of Ireland will lead the distribution of funding.
The eligibility period will relate to increased energy costs (proven via utility bills) sustained between September 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. Energy costs association with non-sporting activity (such as bars, restaurants etc.)
TOUGH VIEWING: Rathlee’s Brendan McGrath was in the crowd watching Sligo’s struggles against Laois in last Sunday’s AFL Division Four opener at Markievicz Park. Sligo lost 2-11 to 0-11.
MEDAL WINNERS: Members of the St Attracta’s squad that won last Thursday’s FAI Schools Senior Girls Connacht Cup final. Pictured are Eimear Hunt, Cara King, Ciara Walsh, Rebecca Staunton, Therese Conboy, Macayla Burke and Ellen Kelleher. SEE PAGES 66-68.
are not eligible under SESS. Clubs applying for support must own or lease the sporting facilities and be the primary utility bill payer. For further information and to apply, clubs should go to the FAI website, fai.ie, or email grantfundingschemes@fai.ie.
Sligo entrants wanted in Lidl programme
Ladies Football clubs in Sligo have until Wednesday next, February 8, to apply to take part in this year’s Lidl Ireland One Good Club programme.
Nominations can be submitted online at www.lidl.ie/onegoodclub. One club from each county will be selected to join the programme. Previous Sligo entrants include St Nathy’s, who were named the programme’s overall winners in 2021, and Coolera-Strandhill.
The Lidl One Good Club programme is developed and delivered in association with their retail partners, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, and Jigaw, which is the national centre for youth mental health. The programme, which runs over 10 weeks, commencing in March, has five themes: ‘Be Active’, ‘Take Notice’, ‘Connect’, ‘Give’ and ‘Keep Learning’. The programme aims to raise awareness and improve understanding of mental health.
LGFA national president Mícheál Naughton, who hails from Castleconnor in west Sligo, said: “We are anticipating another exceptional
Lidl Ireland One Good Club programme for 2023 and we expect a strong expression of interest ahead of the closing date.” Naughton added: “This programme has the ability to make life-changing and long-lasting impacts on participating clubs and their communities.”
Ref Gilmartin takes charge in Ederney
Curry’s John Gilmartin was the match referee for the Allianz Football League Division Three game between Fermanagh and Longford last Saturday at St Joseph’s Park, Ederney. Fermanagh won this game by seven points, 0-15 to 0-8. Gilmartin was the fourth official for the recent controversial AIB All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship final – the infamous ‘16th man’ contest – between Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes and Derry lub Glen.
Another Sligo GAA referee, Ronan Hynes, was linesman for the Allianz Football League Division One fixture involving Mayo and Galway at Castlebar on Saturday night last. That game ended level with Ryan O’Donoghue, a former Sligo Rovers Academy player, getting the equaliser for Mayo.
Victory for Lattimore at Enniscrone GC
David Lattimore won the 18-hole competition played on the Dunes course at Enniscrone
Golf Club last Saturday. Lattimore, who has a golf handicap of 22, posted a score of 44 points.
The other players to feature in the category prizes (based on golf handicap indexes) were Joseph Byrne, John
Helly and Joe Dolan. Meanwhile, the pairing of Liam Grimes and Mattie Lehane won last Sunday’s fourball betterball (over 18 holes) at the west Sligo club. Their score was 49 points – they finished ahead of Michael Cawley and Pat Sweeney (47 points) and the combination of Johnny Leonard and Peadar Flynn (46 points).
Away draw for Sligo RFC’s senior women
Sligo RFC’s senior women’s team drew 17-17 away to Galwegians’ second XV in a Connacht Women’s League fixture played at Crowley Park, Galway, last Sunday.
This was the campaign’s first stalemate for Sligo, who had won three and lost one of their four games prior to the trip to Galway last weekend. Sligo scored three tries, as did Galwegians, with the visitors’ five-pointers coming
from Laura McIntyre, Sophie Kinghan and Emma Cox. One of Sligo’s three tries was converted thanks to a successful kick by Emma Cox.
Sligo host University of Galway this Sunday at Hamilton Park, Strandhill (1pm).
Lavin joins Ipswich Town’s U-21 squad
Ballymote’s Michael Lavin, 18, has joined the U-21 squad of Ipswich Town, who are currently third in League One of the English Football League. The teenager, who was previously part of the Sligo Rovers Academy, was one of four transfer deadline day signings by Ipswich for their U-21 squad – also joining are fellow teens Ryan Carr, Leon Ayinde and Daniel O’Connor (formerly of Galway United).
Midfielder Lavin is a younger brother of Sligo senior Gaelic footballer Jack Lavin, who captained Sligo to last year’s historic breakthrough in the Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship.
Medals for Sligo students at an indoor event
Corran AC’s Erin Taheny and Eva Delahunt (Sligo AC) were medallists for Dublin City University at last Saturday’s IUAA (Irish Universities Athletics Association) Indoor Championships that took place at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, Abbottstown.
Also winning at these championships were Tireragh AC’s Shane Mooney and Ryan Roberts, a member of Sligo AC. Taheny won bronze in the female 200 metres final. She qualified for the decider by finishing second in her heat. She was placed fourth in the final of the female 60 metres race, where she clocked 7.89 seconds, having won her heat with a time of 7.96 seconds. Taheny was then part of the DCU team that took silver in the female 4x200 metres relay. Racewalker Eva Delahunt, Sligo AC, took silver in the female 1500 metres walk. Shane Mooney, a University of Galway student, secured a silver medal in the male 60 metres hurdles.
Ryan Roberts, a racewalker with Maynooth University, was placed third overall, winning bronze, in the male 2,000 metres walk. The overall team prizes, male and female, at this meet went to DCU.
Meanwhile, Corran AC’s
Ben Clavin competed in last Sunday’s AAI Indoor Games which took place in Athlone. He posted a personal best of 1:54.08 over 800 metres.
DRP’s Smith plays for DCU in Sigerson Cup
Drumcliffe-Rosses Point’s Eoghan Smith played for Dublin City University in their Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education Sigerson Cup quarter-final defeat of MTU Cork, 2-12 to 0-9, at the DCU Sportground on Tuesday night. Connacht U-20 winner Smith, an attacker who is now part of the county’s senior panel, was a first-half substitute for Monaghan native Sean Jones. MTU Cork, who were just two points down at the break, 0-7 to 0-5, knocked ATU Sligo out of the competition in last week’s third round.
Barry will judge an AFL fixture this Sunday
Sligo GAA referee Barry Judge in on duty this weekend – the Castleconnor man takes charge of Sunday’s Allianz Football League Division Three fixture between Cavan and Tipperary at Kingspan
SNOOKER CREW: Members of the Sligo Snooker Club team that competed in last weekend’s All-Ireland Snooker Club Championships which were sponsored and hosted by Killarney’s Gleneagle Hotel. Paddy Brady, Paul Logan, Joe Shannon, Damien Conway and Colm McDonagh.
Breffni Park, Cavan (2pm start). Cavan and Tipperary tose from Division Four of the Allianz Football League last year – both inflicted defeats on Sligo en route to promotion. Meanwhile, Tipperary match official Sean Lonergan is the referee for Sligo’s Allianz Football League Division Four fixture against Wicklow at Aughrim’s Echelon Park on Sunday.
Kerrigan moves to MSU in the NCAA top tier
Tubbercurry’s Sean Kerrigan has joined Michigan State University and will be on the MSU men’s soccer team roster for their NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division I competitions in 2023. Last year Kerrigan starred for Pennysylvania’s Mercyhurst University, who were competing in the NCAA Division II. In what was his sophomore year, he scored 20 goals and contributed seven assists.
The attacking midfielder, whose older brother, Liam, is with Como in Italy’s Serie B, played a prominent part in Mercyhurt’s capture of the PSAC (Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference) Men’s Soccer Championship. The former Sligo Rovers Academy player was selected on the NCAA Division II CCA All-American selection (First Team) and the All-PSAC West First Team.
Big GAA game for Summerhill teenagers
This evening, Thursday, Summerhill College’s senior Gaelic footballers take on Mayo’s Ballinrobe Community School in the semi-final of the Connacht GAA Post Primary Schools Senior ‘A’ Football Championship. This provincial fixture takes place at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence, Bekan, with a 6pm start.
Summerhill emerged unbeaten from a four-team team group to reach the knockout stages – they
defeated both Rice College (Westport) and Claregalway College and drew with St Gerald’s College (Castlebar). The Sligo town secondary school were previously Connacht GAA Post Primary School Senior ‘A’ Football Championship finalists in 2020.
Home loss for Rovers women in a friendly
The pre-season for Sligo Rovers senior women’s team began with a 3-1 defeat at home to Athlone Town on Saturday last. Rovers started with nine confirmed players for the forthcoming SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division season and also featured trialists in the starting line-up and from the bench – two of whom were sisters Keri and Jodie Loughrey. Athlone opened the scoring at the Sean Fallon Centre through Chloe Singleton in the 10th minute, but Rovers fired back from the penalty spot with a ‘trialist’ finding the back of the net. The visitors’ quality eventually shone through in the second-half. Chloe Singleton restored Athlone’s lead with her second goal of the game, while Manorhamilton native and ex-Rovers academy player Muireann Devaney completed the scoring.
Rugby teens qualify for a Connacht final
Sligo RFC’s Boys U-16 team have qualified for the Connacht Boys U-16 League Division One final. On Saturday last they were impressive 19-3 winners over Ballina, scoring three tries in a semi-final that took place at Hamilton Park, Strandhill.
Winger Conor McGoldrick scored Sligo’s only first-half try, with five-pointers coming in the second period from full-back Conor Jack van Rensburg, who marked his birthday with a fine try, and centre James McGettrick. Cillian O’Neill converted both of Sligo’s second-half tries. Sligo
led 5-3 at half-time. Sligo’s forwards played their part, too, with their defensive work prevented at least three Ballina tries in the second-half.
Sligo will take on Athlone’s Buccaneers in the decider which is scheduled for the weekend after next.
Earlier this season Sligo drew 10-10 away to Buccaneers, who were 17-12 winners over Galway Corinthians last Sunday in the competition’s other semi-final.
Buncrana siblings join the Bit O’Red
Sligo Rovers have made further additions to their senior women’s squad for the 2023 SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division that begins next month. There are two new faces at The Showgrounds, sisters Jodie and Keri Loughrey, who hail from Buncrana, Co. Donegal. Forward Jodie, 16, has played for the Republic of Ireland at U-16 and U-17 level. Last year she was named the Republic of Ireland women’s U-16 Player of the Year. Her
older sister Keri, a midfielder, is also a Republic of Ireland international.
Defender Orna O’Dowd, a former Ballina Town player who was part of the Rovers team that had its inaugural season in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League, re-signed this week. Of the current 20-strong squad, again managed by Steve Feeney, 18 are re-signings from last season and there are two newcomers, the Loughrey siblings. Meanwhile, the Rovers senior women’s team play their second pre-season friendly this Saturday when they are away to Athlone Town (Athlone Town Stadium, 2pm).
The sides met on Saturday last at The Showgrounds, with Athlone winning 3-1 on the all-weather pitch at the Sean Fallon Centre.
Sligo Rovers senior women’s squad (2023 season): Lauren Boles, Ruth Monaghan, Kerri O’Hara, Emma Doherty, Ciara Henry, Kate Nugent, Jessica Casey, Katie Melly, Leah Kelly, Amy Mahon (gk), Lauren McLellan, Amy Hyndman, Sarah Kiernan, Amy Roddy, Aife Haran, Helen Monaghan, Alice Lillie, Keri Loughrey, Jodie Loughrey, Orna O’Dowd.
SKILLS: Ellen Kelleher, in action for St Attracta’s Community School in last Thursday’s FAI Schools Senior Girls Connacht Cup decider against Claregalway College at Lecarrow, Co. Roscommon. St Attracta’s won 1-0.