Injuries put the west Sligo side at a disadvantage – but they will give this Connacht final their best shot
IN AN ideal world, Eoghan Rua would have been buzzing. On a roll since their powerful capture of the Sligo LGFA Intermediate Championship title, the west Sligo outfit entered the provincial arena with a swagger.
Not cocky, just confident that the performances produced in Sligo would be good enough to bring them further.
The first to experience Hurriance Eoghan Rua was Leitrim’s Mohill, against whom Eoghan Rua scored 3-9. That provincial quarter-final victory led to a semi-final clash against Eire Óg (Roscommon). Eoghan Rua never trailed in this game and won with five points to spare, 1-13 to 1-8.
It would have been interesting to see if and how Galway’s Naomh Mhuire would have dealt with an improving and rampant Eoghan Rua, who were building momentum with each positive result.
But Covid-19, restrictions, lockdowns and unpredictable times halted that surge.
Eoghan Rua are still finalists, of course, with the Connacht LGFA Junior Club Championship decider now going ahead this Saturday at Markievicz Park (3.30pm). Can the rumble that they started last October be replicated in June?
That is the dilemma facing Eoghan Rua manager Shane Feeney.
“We had a bit of a momentum going back then – there was a feel-good factor after those results. Then the final was called off. We were supposed to play it in mid-January and that was rescheduled.” “We always would have preferred to play it – this is a Connacht final after all – and thankfully the country’s situation has improved with regards Covid-19 and the Connacht LGFA were able to finally give us a date [June 19].” “We are finally getting our wish to play the game.” But Feeney has been cursed by an extensive injury list that has disrupted his and Eoghan Rua’s plans. Injuries to Claire Duffy, Leanne Taylor, Sarah Curley, Shannon Howley and
Saoirse McGowan have depleted Feeney’s options. “Hopefully other players will step up and take their chance.”
Sinead Naughton is Eoghan Rua’s county player. Two other county players, Rachel O’Brien and Aishling Molloy, were with Eoghan Rua last year and are OK to feature against Naomh Mhuire – although St Farnan’s, the first club of O’Brien and Molloy, has reformed an adult team for 2021.
With months separating the semi-final and the final, Saturday’s game has one-off feel about it. Indeed, the Connacht champions – be that Eoghan Rua or Naomh Mhuire – will not have an All-Ireland series to prepare for as the completion of the provincial series will put a full stop on the 2020 campaign.
“I don’t know that much about Naomh Mhuire. We can only concentrate on ourselves. As far as I know they have two players on the Galway Senior panel which, to be fair, means that they have to be good.” “I’m told they have some very good camogie players as well, players who are on Galway teams.”
“The level of Ladies Football in Galway is very, very good. It will be an interesting test for us and it will be interesting to see how we get on, despite all the injuries.”
Feeney, who starred for Easkey as a Gaelic footballer, was also part of the Sea Blues management team when the west Sligo side reached the GAA Football All-Ireland Junior Club Championship final, playing at Croke Park against Kerry’s Beaufort in February of 2019.
“It is a big occasion like this – a Connacht final – that will make a club, give people memories and something to look back on in years to come.”
“At least we have this final for Eoghan Rua and west Sligo to get excited about. I know from being involved with Easkey a few years ago how much these games mean to a community.”
“We have to take this chance and hopefully the players can do the business on Saturday.” Eoghan Rua’s campaign in Sligo has only