CONNACHT SEMI-FINALISTS
Back in 2022 Sligo were still in Division Four of the Allianz Football League, were losing to Roscommon by 12 points in a Connacht semi-final but yet showing signs of recovery when reaching the semi-final of the inaugural Tailteann Cup.
But Galway are Galway and they’ll probably be invigorated after this kick in the pants, although one would be forgiven for thinking that Galway had lost such was the dour mood of their players as they departed the away dressing-rooms.
For the most part Sligo rode their luck – Galway missed several goal chances in the first-half and Tony McEntee’s men were fortunate, too, that Shane Walsh is still not at his glowing best (he scored a point and was withdrawn after 47 minutes).
But Sligo were unlucky that one of Galway’s substitutes was none other than Damien Comer, a wrecking ball of a forward whose presence helped give the visitors hope.
Sligo could have done with the likes of Luke Towey, Pat Spillane, David Quinn and Jack Lavin as options, either as starters or replacements.
This was one of the county’s best
IN THE last 10 Connacht campaigns (2014-2023), Sligo were provncial semifinalists on seven occasions.
They played Galway (2014, 2018, 2020), Roscommon (2015, 2016, 2022) and New York (2023) in these semifinals. Sligo’s only semi-final win in this
ever opportunities to beat Galway.
A number of Sligo players would have relished getting one over on those in maroon, especially those that played in the defeats to Galway in the 2015 Connacht GAA Minor Football Championship final replay (Eddie McGuinness, Nathan Mullen, Darragh Cummins, Paul Kilcoyne, Patrick O’Connor, Mikey Gordon, Sean Carrabine, Alan McLoughlin) and the 2017 Connacht GAA U-21 Football Championship decider (Eddie McGuinness, Mikey Gordon, Paul McNamara, Darragh Cummins, Paul Kilcoyne, Patrick O’Connor, Alan McLoughlin, Sean Carrabine, Darragh Cummins). portion of the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship was last year’s defeat of New York, 2-16 to 0-6, at Markievicz Park. Sligo have only won 19 semi-finals overall in the history of the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship.
Sligo deserved to get to a Connacht final but what then? Could they have again upset the applecart by beating mighty Mayo? Could they have brought last Saturday’s fire into the Sam Maguire Cup?
Sligo, although understandably dejected, have had their moral victory. With the Tailteann Cup around the corner, Sligo should be able to take on all comers in this competition.
The cloud of the heartbreaking loss to Galway has a silver lining as the year may yet bring actual silverware.
Sligo must treat each game from now on as if they’re competing with and almost beating Galway in the April sun.