Semi-final loss for Ballisodare United’s U-18s
competition is sponsored by Kwo Construction. The first competition in the Golfer of the Year series for 2024 takes place this coming Sunday – the sponsor of the opening round is the Mill Pharmacy, Coolaney. The final round of the Callaway Open Series is scheduled for the weekend after next (April 26-27).
Meanwhile, the club’s Get into Golf Programme for female golfers starts on Thursday, May 9. This is an eightweek programme led by PGA professional Seamus Clinton. For further details contact Eoin at the golf shop on 071 9118080.
Ref Connolly takes charge in Meagher Cup
Sligo GAA referee Michael Connolly, who hails from Culleens, west Sligo, took charge of last Saturday’s Lory Meagher Cup fixture between Leitrim and Fermanagh at Avant Money Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada, Carrick-on-Shannon (having been switched from Shane McGettigan Park, Drumshanbo). Fermanagh, who beat the hosts by seven points, 0-19 to 1-9, were this year’s Allianz Hurling League Division 3B finalists. Fermanagh were 0-9 to 0-0 ahead at half-time in last weekend’s fixture. Meanwhile, Sligo referee Gus Chapman officiated last Sunday’s Connacht LGFA U-16 Championship ‘A’ decider between Mayo and Galway at the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence. Mayo won a thrilling tie after extra-time, 2-18 to 3-8.
Mexico mission for STC stalwart Noreen Cassidy
Noreen Cassidy, a member of Sligo Tennis Club, is part of the Tennis Ireland section at the upcoming International Tennis Federation World
Team Championships that take place in Mexico City, Mexico (April 28 to May 11).
There are three teams representing the country – one each for the 50, 55 and 60 age categories (each team comprises of four male and four female tennis players).
Cassidy, who is a secondary school teacher at Ballymote’s Coláiste Muire, was helped in her preparations by Marina Swann, her doubles partner at Sligo Tennis Club.
She qualified through her results in National Masters Tournaments.
To mark her selection, Cassidy helped set up a tennis module for Transition Year students at Coláiste Muire (this module was run by tennis coach John Conlon).
Cassidy has received support as her trip to Mexico gets closer. “I’m deeply touched by the club’s genorosity and support, as well as that of fellow members – it serves as a reminder of the great solidarity in Sligo Tennis Club.”
Ballisodare United lost 4-3 at home to Galway’s Maree Oranmore ‘B’ in last weekend’s Connacht Football Association Boys U-18 Shield semi-final. The visitors went in front after 15 minutes but Shane Gethins provided the equaliser for Ballisodare. It was 1-1 at half-time. The second-half yielded five goals, with Maree Oranmore retaking the lead after 55 minutes. Mikey Coen’s 75th minute goal made it 2-2 but then Ballisodare suffered a setback when their opponents goaled twice in the space of two minutes. Ballisodare battled back and Darragh Sweeney scored the visitors’ third goal but it stayed at 4-3 and so Ballisodare were knocked out.
Earlier this month Ballisodare won the Sligo-Leitrim Boys U-18 Shield, beating Merville United 4-2 on penalties at MacSharry Park. That game finished 3-3 after extra-time – Ballisodare’s goalscorers were Shane Gethins (2) and Mikey Coen.
U-17 hurlers are victorious in Mullingar
Sligo’s U-17 hurlers were one-point winners over Westmeath, 1-8 to 0-10, at St Loman’s Park, Mullingar, last Saturday. Ryan O’Donnell’s converted free in the closing stages was the winning score for Sligo in this GAA Celtic Challenge Group Five fixture.
Played on an astroturf pitch, Sligo were backed by the breeze in the first-half and were three points to the good at half-time, 0-7 to 0-4. The hosts came into proceedings during the second-half and were 0-8 to 0-7 ahead by the 52nd minute. Sligo scored the game’s only goal when Luke Tuffy scored from an Adam Roberts pass. This put Sligo back in front, 1-7 to 0-8, but two points from Westmeath levelled matters again until Ryan O’Donnell’s late winner. Next up for Sligo is home game against Mayo this Saturday. Sligo’s scorers against Westmeath were as follows: Luke Tuffy (1-4, 4f ); Michael McDonagh (0-2, 1 ‘65’); Oisin Deehan (0-1); Ryan O’Donnell (0-1, 1f ).
Donaghy stars for Limerick Celtics
Sligo’s Eoghan Donaghy was part of the Limerick Celtics side that finished topped the South Conference of this season’s Basketball Ireland InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Division One. Limerick Celtics, placed second in the overall standings behind UCD Marian, lost 101-100 to Moy Tolka Rovers in the play-offs. The Men’s Division One title was won last Saturday by UCD
GETTING READY: Sligo Tennis Club’s Noreen Cassidy, with club members Marina Swann, Stephen Cunningham and Frank Armstrong. Cassidy is part of a Tennis Ireland selection that will be taking part in the ITF World Team Championships in Mexico.
Marian, who beat Moy Tolka Rovers 94-81. UCD Marian return to the top flight after last season’s demotion.
Honours in last Sunday’s Basketball Ireland InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League final went to Griffith College Éanna – they won a first-ever Super League crown thanks to a 93-61 defeat of Pyrobel Killester at the National Basketball Arena.
EJ Sligo All-Stars reached the Super League play-offs but lost to Galway’s Maree in the quarter-finals. Maree then lost to eventual champions Griffith College Éanna in the last four.
Handballer Finn wins U-21 title
Sligo handballer Cormac Finn, pictured, a member of Ballymote Handball Club, won the Men’s U-21 Singles title at last Sunday’s GAA Handball 4-Wall (40x20) All-Ireland Championships. Finn was victorious over Kilkenny handballer Sean Barron (21-10, 21-6) at the GAA National Handball Centre, Croke Park.
Last month Finn teamed up with another player from Ballymote Handball Club, Donal Mitchell, to win the Men’s U-21 Doubles title at national level.
Tomorrow, Friday, and Saturday the GAA Handball intervarsities 60x30 competitions are taking place in the Ballymote and Collooney courts. Cormac and Laura Finn will be taking part as well Laura Brophy, a Laois handballer who will be competing for ATU Sligo.
Elsewhere, Castleconnor’s Darragh Murphy, now a member of Drumcliffe Handball Club, overcame another Drumcliffe handballer, Gearoid Conway, in the Connacht GAA Handball Junior ‘C’ Singles Championship. Murphy progresses to a semi-final against Damien McDermott from Galway.
Sligo players don’t make the Lidl NFL team
No Sligo Ladies Footballers were selected on the Lidl NFL Division Three Team of the League for 2024. The Cormac Reape-managed Sligo, who didn’t win any of their seven fixtures, losing six times and drawing once, were relegated from the third tier along with Antrim. Division Three champions Clare had six players picked on the Division Three Team of the League, with five players from runners-up Roscommon. The other four players were selected from Down (2), Louth and Offaly. The Teams of the 2024 Lidl National Football Leagues were chosen by the Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s All-Star committee.
Fowley features in a vital victory
Drumcliffe’s Nicole Fowley was a second-half replacement for the Ireland women’s rugby team in their 36-5 defeat of Wales in a Guinness Women’s Six Nations Championship fixture at Virgin Media Park in Cork.
Outhalf Fowley of Galwegians and Connacht was brought on for Edel McMahon with 66 minutes on the clock. Ireland scored five tries in this game – their first win in the Women’s Six Nations Championship since 2022. The winners led 21-0 at half-time.
In the competition’s previous rounds Ireland lost to France (38-17) and Italy (27-21). This coming Saturday, April 20, Ireland take on England at Twickenham. England have registered mighty results so far – a 48-0 away defeat of Italy, a 46-10 home defeat of Wales and last Saturday’s 46-0 victory away to Scotland. Ireland will face the Scots on Saturday week, April 27.
Swimmers excel at a prestigious meet in Bangor
Three Sligo swimmers, Izabella Lehany McGoldrick, Kyle Kelly and Dominic French, all members of Longford Swimming Club, excelled at last weekend’s McCullagh International Meet at the Bangor Aurora Aquatic & Leisure Centre in Co. Down.
Izabella Lehany McGoldrick, 14, was making her debut at this long course meet. She qualified for seven races including the 200 metres freestyle, 200 metres individual medley, 200 metres backstroke, 400 metres freestyle, 100 metres backstroke, 100 metres freestyle and 400 metres individual medley. A multiple finalist, one of her highlights was a bronze medal win in the 200 metres freestyle age group final. She also posted a new PB (personal best) for this event.
Kyle Kelly, a 17-year-old competitor, was a Junior finalist in the 200 metres freestyle after breaking the two-minute barrier. He then improved his PB (personal best) by over six seconds in the 1500 metres freestyle. Placed eighth overall in the men’s 800 metres freestyle, Kelly was also an ‘A’ finalist in the men’s 400 metres freestyle swim.
Dominic French, meanwhile, competed across four events – 200 metres individual medley, 400 metres individual medley, 200 metres backstroke and 50 metres backstroke.
French, 18, clocked 4:59.25 in the ‘A’ final of the men’s 400 metres individual medley. He was eighth overall and also secured a new PB (personal best) of 3.83 seconds.
He clocked further Pbs for the 200 metres backstroke (where he was a Junior finalist) and the 200 metres individual medley when he was also a finalist and finished ninth overall. French has qualified for next month’s Irish Open Championships.
No repeat for Fox on Corach Rambler
Sligo jockey Derek Fox was unable to win back-to-back Aintree Grand Nationals. He guided Corach Rambler to glory in the 2023 event, his second Grand National success, but on Saturday last the Sligo man was unseated after the horse stumbled on landing after the first fence.
The world-famous steeplechase was won by the 7-1 joint favourite I Am Maximus, ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins. Of the 32 starters, 21 horses completed the race – this was the highest number of finishers since 1992. Fox, 31, won his first Grand National at Aintere in 2017 on board One For Arthur which was trained by Lucinda Russell, also the trainer of Corach Rambler, a 10-year-old gelding.
Sports women are speakers at Carrick gig
Grange’s Caroline Currid, a well-known performance psychologist and former
Sligo Ladies Footballer, and ex-international runner
Mary Cullen, who hails from Drumcliffe, were among the speakers at an event in Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim, on Saturday last. The event, entitled ‘Let’s Talk About Cancer’, was held at the Landmark Hotel. Among the topics discussed was how sport can play a role in combating a cancer diagnosis. There was also a tribute to the late Joe Shannon, a popular Sligo chef who died from cancer. The day was organised by ex-Leitrim Gaelic football goalkeeper Martin McHugh and Paul McLoone, both cancer survivors. Proceeds went to North West Hospice and SHOUT
Cancer Care.