Sligo boss Darragh Fallon says back to back titles proves Yeats men can push on in 2020
SLIGO U16 manager Daragh Fallon feels progress is being made with underage football in the county, as they were crowned Fr. Manning Cup champions, following a 1-11 to 1-5 victory over Laois.
“So much work goes into Sligo football. I think that a lot of people are very quick to start throwing stones at the senior setup which is a bit unfair because the work that goes in at underage is phenomenal.
“At 9:00 we have 20+ coaches sitting in a room working on our standards, working on where we want to bring Sligo football to.
“We’re getting there, we’re making significant progress.
“This is back to back titles. Let’s not forget the boys who won this last year.
“This is back to back. Winning breeds winners. Success breeds success.
“We have to keep taking these opportunities, to keep building, to keep reinforcing to the fellas in the squads from u20s right down to the u13 development squads, that we can achieve, that we have to push these boundaries and that we just keep on going, keep focusing on ourselves and we’re not worried too much about what’s outside of it,” Fallon said when speaking after the game.
Fallon was thrilled with his sides work rate on the day, against what he described as a “fantastic” Laois team.
“Everybody watching here today can see what we’re about. Huge, huge work rate goes in there.
“Wasn’t pretty sometimes, wasn’t easy sometimes. Laois posed a huge threat to us.
“They’re a fantastic team, well-managed team, well-organised team.
“I’m absolutely delighted with the boys who dug deep and got over the line,” he said.
Fallon is hoping that this team can make an impact on next season’s Connacht Minor Championship and wants to make players proud to play for their county.
“Our role here is not just to prepare fellas for u16s. I think that would be very negligent on our part. We’re looking to prepare them for next year and then to become senior footballers.
“We want to retain these fellas. We want them to want to be part of Sligo football.
“We want them to be proud of the jersey that they’re wearing.
“It’s all about seeing can we deliver success at senior level.
“We just have those couple of milestones along the way.
“The Minor Championship happens to be one of them.
“The lads are a fantastic bunch to work with. It’s all about the lads today, the depth in the squad.
“Everything that they do, they give us week in week out.
“I’m so proud of them. I know that they can knuckle down next year and will be looking for success in that minor championship,” he added.