Encouraging signs as Tony’s era commences
A SIGN of just how far Sligo have regressed is that there a sense of foreboding in Markievicz Park last Sunday ahead of the AFL opener against provincial neighbours Leitrim.
A new manager in the form of Tony McEntee, the start of a new season after months of lockdowns and restrictions, but familiar questions, not just about the players available and selected in the matchday squad, but those that weren’t.
The word in the press area was that there were GAA folk on social media in a funk because Sligo’s starting XV didn’t feature a Tourlestrane name. In fact, there was just one player from the county champions and five in-a-row heroes – Oisín Kennedy – among the 11 substitutes.
Liam Gaughan and John Francis Carr are the other Tourlestrane inspirations in McEntee’s squad but both are currently ruled out because of injury.
For the handful of those permitted to be present, along with those at home who went online for the live streaming via GAAGO, it was a little ironic that Leitrim’s jerseys could easily pass for a Tourlestrane kit. Of course, Tourlestrane is the club of Eamonn O’Hara, who was in the running to take over from Paul Taylor – but that vacancy went to McEntee.
While McEntee has a definite aura from his playing career – and his successful time as manager of his own club, Crossmaglen – this is his first spin on the inter-county rollercoaster.
He will encounter the same issues that have befuddled his predecessors – not enough A-listers, a shallow talent pool at the best of times, injuries and players opting out of the adventure.
But his first selection, aided by Joe Keane and Mark Breheny, was to focus on those players at his disposal. This faith was rewarded as several players stepped up to the plate, possibly some who in the recent past may not have been trusted by others managers – and fans – to deliver.
Cian Lally excelled, using his basketball nous on several occasions, with purposeful showings from Evan Lyons, Peter Laffey and David Quinn. There were notable interceptions from defenders Eddie McGuinness and Paul McNamara, with one of their colleagues in defence, Keelan Cawley, wearing the captain’s armband for the first time.
Goalkeeper Eamonn Kilgannon, who now has the chance to step out of Aidan Devaney’s shadow, came up trumps with some assured handling in the goalmouth and a memorable second-half save.
Sligo’s consistent gathering of possession, either cleanly and from breaks, via their own kickouts and those of Leitrim, was reflected in their return of 21 scores (2-19). There
were also five wides and two goal chances thwarted by Leitrim custodian Brendan Flynn.
Despite winning, Sligo were brittle at times. Leitrim, willing but never brilliant, managed to score 18 times – that is a major worry. Sligo also frequently turned the ball over, often through their own errors and misplaced passes, not as a result of Leitrim pressing.
This was a very open game – both sides funnelled players back when required but there were only fleeting glimpses of blanket defences.
Leitrim had their moments but the red card for Aidan Flynn, who was dismissed for a stupid challenge on the cusp of half-time, ultimately scuppered any momentum they hoped to bring into the second-half.
Keith Beirne is an excellent forward but he ended up carrying Leitrim’s intentions in the second-half.
During a second-half that Sligo more or less controlled, the biggest moment of panic (in the press area at least) was when County Board PRO Bart Barrins thought the electronic scoreboard (operated by his daughter, Aoibhe) was displaying the wrong score and that Leitrim should be a point closer to Sligo.
Sligo’s attack was the most pleasing facet of this victory. All six of the forwards that started scored.
Only one of Sligo’s 21 scores came from a non-attacker – goalkeeper Eamonn Kilgannon, who converted a free in second-half stoppage time.
Not only did Sligo’s attack function well, each of the attacking players are forwards for their respective clubs.
There were some notable examples of point-scoring, particularly when the likes of Conor Griffin, David Quinn, Cian Lally and Niall Murphy found the range from distance.
Red Óg Murphy also lofted a number of tempting deliveries into Leitrim’s goalmouth.
Niall Murphy’s return also begs the obvious question – just how much better off would Sligo have been last year with him in the team?
So, some positives, some negatives. Still, a winning start to be built on. That feeling of foreboding has been replaced by something else, something fragile but welcome. It is called hope.
A defeat of Leitrim wouldn’t ordinarily define a team’s season, not least that of Sligo, but sadly these are no longer ordinary times.
Because the inter-county campaign is shortened, with a minimum of five games for McEntee to get accustomed to the size of the Sligo task, last weekend’s result was so important.