We left every ounce on the Ballybofey pitch
SLIGO Minors’ bid to reach the All-Ireland semi-final for the first time in nearly fifty years ended by the smallest of margins. Derry the Ulster Champions who swatted everyone aside in Ulster will go on to play Dublin in the last 4. If we didn’t play to potential in the Connacht final we certainly left every ounce on the Ballybofey pitch last Saturday in what was a tremendous game of football where we matched the Ulster heavyweights in every area. To put this performance into perspective, Cavan who were well beaten by 7 points against Derry in the Ulster final went on to knockout Galway who defeated us by 10 points.
This was a full blooded championship game where the Sligo players while in defeat can be satisfied that they left everything on the field where lady luck deserted us in injury time after showing tremendous character when scoring three points in a row to level the game on the stroke of full time, we then hit an upright with a magnificent effort only for them to go down and get a winning score from there.
There is no doubt the Derry fans got this game over the line for their side as they lifted them many times when we had them well on the ropes and energised them to go on to win the game. Except for family and a few loyal followers there was no Sligo support which was disappointing as games like this are won on small margins and that extra support could have made all the difference.
Certainly when involved with a team I don’t like to mention individuals but the performance of some of the players cannot go unmentioned. I’ll start with Red Óg Murphy who is still 16 years old who put in one of the best individual Sligo minor performances in many years scoring 11 points in addition to unbelievable work rate getting in tackle after tackle, for the fans that didn’t travel they missed something special but there is no doubt if he keeps maturing and progressing we will be hearing a lot more about him. Barry Gorman the captain of the side was inspirational in every aspect fielding kick outs, scoring and leading the team from the front with a never-say-die attitude. Luke Towey was another player who drove relentlessly, finding holes in the Derry defence on a regular basis, also carrying the ball from deep taking pressure off the Sligo defence. I could mention every player but the reality is that everyone that got game time left an impression that they can move up the ranks and progress to under 20 level and beyond over the next number of years. Similar to a number of promising minor teams in the mid to late nineties which ended up back boning them memorable Croke Park performances in addition to winning a Connacht Championship in 2007 the last number of minor teams has that same potential with many very exciting players developing and will hit the senior team which augers well for the future provided they are looked after and nurtured.
Expanding a little more on the above, while winning Connacht Colleges and Minor Connacht championships is always the aim at this level which can build confidence and commit players to Sligo football it doesn’t mean success can’t come thereafter. To back up this point and look at the local scene where Tourlestrane has dominated Sligo Senior Championships for the last quarter of century but have little or no success at ‘Minor A level’ during that time. However what they do successfully is continuously develop players from each of their age groups to replenish their senior team.
With all the above in mind it is very important that the structures are in place to retain and develop these players going forward and not waste all the excellent work that has been put in through development and county sides up to minor level. This is the same challenge that every county talks about but in our case with small playing numbers compared to others it is imperative we get it right.
This weekend sees the start of the Belfry Senior Football Championship with 4 games on show. Last year’s winners Tourlestrane play Drumcliffe/Rosses Point who have showed some improvement in the last rounds of the League but would need to find a lot more again to trouble Tourlestrane.
In the 4 team group Tubbercurry will play neighbours Curry and St Mary’s go up against Eastern Harps with Tubber and Mary’s expected to win. Tubbercurry look the nearest challengers at this time to prevent the Tourlestrane two in a row bid so it will be interesting to see how they deal with the early group games in what is the group of death with all 4 teams winning Owen B over the last ten years, with Tourlestrane the only side from the other two groups that have won it. Coolera/Strandhill have been going well in Division two and should get the better of St Molaise Gaels that have been hit with a number of injuries this year.
RED ÓG MURPHY PUT IN ONE OF THE BEST INDIVIDUAL MINOR PERFORMANCES FOR SLIGO