All eyes are on the prize
JESSICA FARRY HEADS ALONG TO TRAINING TO CATCH UP WITH SLIGO PLAYERS AHEAD OF THEIR OPENING GAME OF THE SEASON AGAINST THOMOND ON SATURDAY.
FOR Sligo Rugby Club’s Senior team, this is the year. This is the year that they must achieve promotion to the Ulster Bank Division 2B.
Having come so close last season, losing out in a play-off game to Rainey Old Boys having finished second in the league.
Head Coach Ross Mannion was adamant all year that they should win the league, or reach a play-off place at the very least.
Few outsiders would have believed that it was possible given their struggles in previous years. But Mannion, to his credit, was confident all along.
But this year, there is no room for error. The bulk of last year’s squad has stayed in place, with a couple of additions coming in. The return of Matthew Cosgrove has been a huge boost to the side.
Cosgrove suffered a devastating ACL injury against Corinthians last year - and almost exactly a year later, Cosgrove returned to line out against the same opposition, as Sligo won 41-16 in the final game of the Connacht Senior League two weeks ago.
It’s been a long road for Cosgrove, forced to watch on from the sidelines last season, but it has made him more determined than ever.
“It was a great game to get back into. I was exactly a year out and the game in which I returned was against the same team we played when I got injured so it was brilliant to get back. I was targeting it all year,” he told The Sligo Champion at training at Hamilton Park last Friday evening.
“Especially when the lads were going so well last year, I followed them all around the country, I was kind of the kit man and the water boy. I was helping them out anyway I could, but it’s nice to be able to help out on the pitch now,” he added.
There were dark days for Cosgrove, he admits. But his sheer determination meant he made a quicker than expected return to action.
“When they were going well it was so tough. When they were playing Navan and the play-off game that was tough to watch. I went through a few dark days, sitting in the gym trying to get the leg straight but it’s behind me now. It drives me on. You see the lads doing well and you want to be part of it,” he added.
And Cosgrove knows what the club needs to do this year. He knows that promotion, and nothing less, will do.
“We need to get promoted this year. No play-offs, no second place, just win the league and get out of this division. We have the players, we just beat Corinthians who are two divisions above us so we have the talent we just need to perform, week in, week out. We’ve had a great pre-season with Tommy Craddock so hopefully that can build for our first AIL game next weekend. This is my fourth year at senior rugby. We were nearly relegated, nearly won it last year, so this is our year hopefully,” he added.
Shane Boyle also knows what matters this year. With their opening game in the AIL taking place this Saturday, with a meeting against Thomond, they need to get going from the very start.
“We worked hard during the off-season. It’s not so much about the Connacht Cup, it’s all about the AIL so we’re all really looking forward to getting going now. The team you play first, you play last again next year. Thomond is a big one to step up to at the start, and then we’re into three big games after that,” he said.
He continued: “They’re definitely big boys, they’re big in the gym but they’re probably not as fit as us, hopefully not. It will be a good game, it’s never going to be an easy game going down to Limerick.”
Having given it everything against Navan in the final league game last year, Sligo only had seven days to prepare for their play-off game against Rainey. They have learned from their mistakes, Boyle says.
“Luckily we held on to most of the lads from last year. I think we were unlucky last year, we kind of emptied the tank against Navan and then we had the play-off the week after so we were a bit battered and bruised going into the play-off. Everything is looking good for this year. We’ve all pulled together. We know what we have to do. We’ve learned from our mistakes from last year.
“We worked towards the game against Navan and we had a seven day turnaround for the play-off. We had already beaten that team twice that year and I think they had three weeks rest. Maybe we were a little bit too confident last year.”
He’s been a member of the team that was nearly relegated before nearly gaining promotion, and he remains hopeful that this will be the year.
“This is my third year. I’m from Sligo. I came in the year we nearly got relegated and it all turned around after that. Hopefully we can go one step further now.
“Ross (Mannion) is a good man. It’s almost like we’re all, there’s no boundaries between coach and players and we all work together,” he said.
Mannion welcomed the return of Mark Butler with open arms this summer. Having spent a few years travelling and playing rugby in Australia, New Zealand and Italy, he decided to come home and return to Sligo Rugby Club.
“The overall goal of the whole squad would be to improve on last year, falling just short. I wasn’t here myself but the lads had a great season, the most successful season to date in the AIL. If we can stick together, gain promotion and win the league. There’s a lot of confidence, exuberance and energy in the young squad.”
Butler enjoyed his time travelling, gaining a wealth of experience abroad, but, there’s no place like home - is there?
“I played three or four years of AIL with Sligo. I went to Australia, New Zealand and then Italy last year playing a bit of rugby. The weather conditions at Hamilton Park in Strandhill are slightly different to the South of Italy and Australia, but it’s a different style of rugby. You have to adapt to the conditions but there’s no place like home in saying that. I’m looking forward to it.”
The squad has changed hugely since Butler went away. The positivity, and strength of the squad has struck him.