Smiles at Markievicz
SLIGO OVERCOME LEITRIM IN AFL OPENER:
LAST Sunday was a big deal for Tony McEntee. He has been there and done that as a player with both Armagh and Crossmaglen Rangers, but the Sligo Senior team gig is his first foray in inter-county management. He got the perfect start – Sligo beat Leitrim by seven points – but there were aspects of the performance that certainly can be improved.
“We moved the ball well – at times – but in the game, overall, I think there were about 25 times when we gave the ball away,” said the Armagh legend afterwards.
“We took our goals well and it is a positive sign of a team when it is creating goal chances – taking them is important as well.”
“We showed nerves and jitters in the first-half. Getting a result meant so much to the lads, they want to get out of Division Four.”
He reckoned that he was reasonably pleased with Sligo’s situation at halftime – they were only a point down, 0-12 to 0-11, having played against the breeze, and they would also have a numerical advantage for the second-half because of Aidan Flynn’s red card.
“I was happy because we had made a lot of mistakes in that first-half. With only a point in it we had a platform for the second-half.”
“But, overall, the game had a lot of errors and a lot of rustiness. There
were nerves, too.”
“The advantage of the water break these days is that it does give you a chance to reset and maybe make a few tactical changes.”
Sligo’s new manager reiterated that he wants much more from the players. “The second-half was disappointing from our end.”
“While we did play well and at times played some good football, we did drop our intensity a lot. That meant for long periods that Leitrim were still in it.” This Sunday’s trip to Antrim is next on McEntee and Sligo’s agenda. Antrim also won last weekend.
“We want to build on this performance because we’ve got to go to Corrigan Park to try to get a result.”
“I’m viewing it as a home game – it is not too far from where I live,” he added.