Championship preview.
CATHAL MULLANEY LOOKS AHEAD TO THE UPCOMING CHAMPIONSHIP ACROSS ALL DIVISIONS
SENIOR CALRY/ST JOSEPH’S:
THEY topped group two in 2019, before losing out after a replay with Shamrock Gaels at the quarter-final stage.
The reigning Division Two champions have appointed former Sligo minor and U-21 boss David Cummins as manager.
COOLANEY/MULLINABREENA:
THE south Sligo men have threatened to make a breakthrough since winning the Intermediate title almost a decade ago, but have yet to make it past the semi-final stage.
They possess plenty of young talent - the Gorman brothers a case in point - and have Glenn Young as manager this year.
A hefty defeat to Young’s home club, St Mary’s, ended their campaign at the quarter-final stage last year.
COOLERA/STRANDHILL:
COUNTY finalists in 2019, the seasiders have a new management duo in place with Adrian McPartland and Enda Mitchell taking the reins.
The absence of Niall Murphy - outstanding on their run to the county final last year - will reduce Coolera/ Strandhill’s scoring power.
DRUMCLIFFE/ROSSES POINT:
HAVING survived via the relegation play-offs on a number of occasions, Drumcliffe/Rosses Point almost caused a major shock when running Tourlestrane close in their quarter-final clash last year.
With everyone available, Fergal O’Flaherty’s charges have all the necessary tools to make the knockout stages.
EASTERN HARPS:
THE Harps, standard bearers on several occasions since 1990, haven’t featured at the business end since their county final defeat to Tourlestrane in 2017.
Another club with real pedigree, they will have ambitions of making it through Group One. Ballaghderrean native James Mitchell is in charge in 2020.
GEEVAGH:
THE east Sligo club take their place in the top grade again in 2020 after claiming the Intermediate crown last year.
John Hughes’ side possess lots of physicality and have a key target man in Pat Hughes.
While they will likely view survival as a success on their first year back in the Senior grade, they have momentum on their side and could surprise some of the sides in Group Two.
SHAMROCK GAELS:
THEIR return to Senior last year was promising, but a hammering at the hands of Tourlestrane at the semi-final stage will have left a bitter taste.
They have gone for local man Glen McDermott this year to spearhead another tilt at glory, having last claimed the title in 1992.
ST MARY’S:
AIDAN Rooney oversees the Sligo town outfit again in 2020. A semi-final loss to neighbours Coolera/Strandhill ended their campaign last year.
They have had a huge amount of success at underage level over the last decade, and last claimed the Owen B Hunt Cup in 2015.
TOURLESTRANE:
THE reigning champions seek their fifth title in a row in 2020. Their dominance has been built upon an organised defensive structure under the management of Eamonn O’Hara and Gerry McGowan, but they have also proven their attacking credentials with the likes of the Gaughan brothers, Liam and Gary, scoring heavily throughout the 2019 campaign. Though their Connacht record has been a source of disappointment, a fifth championship in succession would certainly secure this group’s place in Sligo GAA folklore.
TUBBERCURRY:
DAVID Curran has replaced Colm McGee at the helm this year. Knocked out by Coolera/Strandhill at the quarter-final stage in 2019, they will believe they have enough in their locker to thwart neighbours Tourlestrane’s five-in-a-row bid. Last winners in 2014, their attacking division remains potent with David Kelly among those pulling the strings in recent seasons.
INTERMEDIATE BALLYMOTE:
TOURLESTRANE’S Enda Kelly takes charge of Ballymote for a second year in 2020. They survived via the relegation play-offs last year, but have the capabilities to build on Division Three league success in 2019.
BUNNINADDEN:
FINALISTS last year, Bunninadden have John O’Flaherty back in charge again this year. They knocked out Curry and Easkey en route to last year’s decider before losing out to Geevagh.
CASTLECONNOR:
DECLAN O’Dea, who has guided both Killala and Ardnaree to Connacht junior club success in the past, succeeds Donal Tuohy as Castleconnor manager for the new season. They were quarter-finalists in 2019, where they lost to eventual winners Geevagh.
CURRY:
THE south Sligo find themselves in Intermediate for a third successive year. Having come so close to success in 2018 - losing out after a replay in the final to Shamrock Gaels - Curry won all of their group matches last year before a shock loss to Bunninadden in the last eight. Kenny Morley, a club stalwart, dons the bainisteoir’s bib in 2020.
EASKEY:
DESSIE Sloyan has departed the managerial role in Easkey with Eamon Sweeney and Noel McGuire among those involved in guiding the Sea Blues this year.
LAST year was their first year back in the Intermediate grade, after they claimed the Sligo and Connacht junior crowns in 2018.
ENNISCRONE/KILGLASS:
Former inter-county referee and Sligo minor manager Michael Duffy has taken the reins of his home club, succeeding Con O’Meara. The west Sligo men were quarter-finalists in 2019 but were beaten by neighbours Easkey in the last eight.
ST John’s:
PJ McGarrigle has returned to the St John’s hotseat for 2020. The Carraroe club last won the second tier championship in 2017, but were relegated from senior after a year back in the top flight. Quarter-finalists last year.
ST Michael’s:
LAST year’s Junior ‘A’ champions take their place in Group Two of the championship on their return to the Intermediate grade. Hugh McGowan remains in charge having led his side to glory last year.
ST Molaise Gaels:
THE north Sligo club are back in the intermediate grade, having last won it in 2016. Though relegated last year, they will harbour hopes of a quick return to the senior championship. Local man Jimmy Langan is back in charge having led the Gaels to their triumph four years ago.
ST Farnan’s:
THE club of Sligo captain Paddy O’Connor ran Geevagh close in last year’s semi-final. Glenn Young has moved to Coolaney/Mullinabreena, with Adrian Smyth now in charge of the Dromore West-Templeboy club.
JUNIOR ‘A’ CLOONACOOL:
FORMER club player Brian McIntyre is again in charge in 2020. They lost out to neighbours Tourlestrane at the semi-final stage last year, and were also Division Three league finalists.
OWENMORE GAELS:
HAVING suffered a semi-final defeat to St Michael’s last year, Owenmore Gaels will look to clinch the title for the first time since 2015. Mark Gilmore is among those involved with the Collooney club this year.
ST PATRICK’S
RELEGATED from Intermediate last year, Noel Kearins is in charge of his native club in 2020. They last won the junior title in 2010.