A year like no other, but
2020 started as normal but when Covid-19 took hold sporting events were postponed, cancelled and rescheduled. But there was still sport to enjoy, albeit behind closed doors and with restrictions, as we reflect on some of the standout moments from the last
CONSIDERING what was to come, the year began on a reasonably exciting note. Sligo’s Senior Gaelic footballers put in a decent display in their four-point loss to Roscommon, 1-15 to 0-14 (a Connacht Senior Football League fixture), with Patrick O’Connor scoring five of Sligo’s 14 points. But Niall Murphy’s decision to opt out of the Sligo Senior panel was a blow to manager Paul Taylor’s plans.
Sligo RFC’s first XV were brave – but beaten – in their Bateman Cup All-Ireland semi-final against Cork Constitution, whose team captain Niall Kenneally is from Knocknahur and a former Sligo RFC underage player. Cork Con won 38-10 at Hamilton Park.
In Youth soccer, the Sligo-Leitrim Boys U-13 team won the Ulster Cup final of the SFAI Boys U-13 Championship, beating Cavan-Monaghan 3-2 in a thrilling final. Cian Nicholson, Peter Moran and Conor Langan netted Sligo-Leitrim’s goals.
IT Sligo’s Senior Gaelic footballers reached the Sigerson Cup quarter-final after a low-scoring defeat of University of Limerick, 0-8 to 0-5. But their adventure ended in the last eight – they lost at home to Letterkenny IT, 1-14 to 1-8. Castleconnor’s Sean Carrabine scored 0-5 for IT Sligo at Ballinode.
Cliona Walsh, the Sligo Tennis Club star, won the Girls U-16 singles title at the Tennis Ireland National Indoor Junior Championships in Dublin. Sligo Rovers announced that Avantcard will be their new primary sponsor, replacing Connolly’s Volkswagen. The West of Ireland Amateur Open Golf Championship, hosted by County Sligo Golf Club at Rosses Point, is to have a new format – stroke play over three consecutive days and then two days of knockout match play for the leading 16 players.
Sligo’s defeat of London in the opening round of the Allianz Football League – a 5-9 to 0-11 win at McGovern Park, Ruislip – ends a 13-game losing streak for the county’s Senior Gaelic footballers.
This was Sligo’s first win at Senior level since May 2018 and the first time that Sligo scored five goals in a National Football League fixture since 1971.
At the North Connacht Schools Cross Country Championships held at Calry, the only individual gold medal is claimed by Ben Clavin, a student at St Attracta’s Community School, in the Junior Boys category. Summerhill College won the team category in the Senior Boys race.
U-15 League Division One final – beating Galway Corinthians, 12-10, at Cregg RFC’s all-weather pitch. Team captain Ambrose Bamber scores two first-half tries, one of which is converted by Oisin O’Neill.
Luke Marren scores 2-5 for St Attracta’s CS but they still lose to St Gerald’s College, Castlebar, 2-9 to 2-8, in the Connacht GAA Post Primary Schools Junior ‘A’ Football Championship semi-final.
Sligo LGFA get a boost via a threeyear sponsorship deal with AbbVie, a world-leading biopharmaceutical company that has two plants in Sligo. GAA stalwart John A McAndrew, a tireless member of St Michael’s GAA Club, is the Connacht recipient at the GAA President’s Awards for 2020. Curry’s Red Óg Murphy bags 1-3 but Sligo lose out to Roscommon, 1-11 to 1-8, in the Connacht GAA U-20
Football Championship semi-final at Markievicz Park.
Handballer Gerry Coleman takes victory in the Plate section of the Men’s Silver Masters ‘B’ category at the GAA Handball Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals. Coleman defeats another Sligo player, Clive Slevin, in the Plate final.
Summerhill College qualify for the Connacht final of the FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Cup thanks to a 5-1 defeat of St Louis Community School, Kiltimagh at Sligo Rovers’ astroturf pitch. Republic of Ireland underage international Kailin Barlow, who scored twice, Daniel Gray-Harrigan, Jason Devaney and Sean McAteer were Summerhill’s four goalscorers. St Nathy’s LGFA Club’s George Leetch is named Club Coach of the Year at the LGFA National Volunteer Awards for 2019. The Mayo native
THE West of Ireland Amateur Open Golf Championship – held annually at County Sligo Golf Club’s base in Rosses Point – is cancelled along with three other provincial events, North of Ireland, East of Ireland and South of Ireland.
It had been hoped that a September date could be found for the West of Ireland but it was culled after what the GUI said was a “detailed consideration of any an all options for rescheduling”.
Sligo Rovers take on Cork City in a virtual game played via FIFA20 and shown on YouTube.
The Sligo Stages Rally, which is organised by Connacht Motor Club, is the latest high-profile sporting event to be pulled due to Covid-19. Goalkeeper Ciaran Kelly’s heroics for Sligo Rovers in the penalty shootout to decide the 2010 FAI Cup final – Rovers overcame Shamrock Rovers 2-0 on spot-kicks – is picked as the soccer highlight of 10 years of sport at the
BALLYMOTE Celtic win Sligo-Leitrim’s Sligo Pallets-sponsored Premier Division – they were unbeaten in 18 games, recording 15 wins and three draws.
They add another trophy when winning the Cleary Landscapes & Pitch Maintenance Cup – beating Coolaney United 4-1 in the final at MacSharry Park. Jack Hevers impresses, scoring twice, with Adam Cunnane and Mark Irwin also on target.
Sligo GAA’s adult championships continue with each game allowed a total attendance of 200.
Sligo All-Stars Basketball Club’s Hoops For Heroes fundraiser meets its targets – 10,000 hoops are shot and €10,000 is gathered in a split fundraiser with Friends of Sligo University Hospital, a local charity.
Sligo RFC stalwart Mickey O’Hehir is appointed Connacht Rugby’s Junior president for the 2020-21 season. Carbury FC wrap up a fourth successive Sligo-Leitrim Super League title and then won the Frank Kennedy Cup with a 5-0 win against Ballymote Celtic. Former Sligo Rovers player Gary Armstrong bagged a hat-trick, with Ryan Norris and Kailum Burns also netting.
Manorhamilton Rangers win the The Glasshouse Hotel Cup thanks to a 5-1 defeat of Cartron United at MacSharry Park. On target for the winners were top scorer Robbie Cunningham (2), Paul Logan, Brian McDonald and Patrick Woulfe.
Horse racing returns to the Cleveragh
THE Athletics Ireland National Junior Championships delivers further medals for Sligo – bronze for Michael Morgan (junior men’s 1500 metres) and Ruth Monaghan (junior women’s 3,000 metres walk).