SPORT ROUND-UP
Armstrong plays his part in Athlone win
Sligo town’s Gary Armstrong, the former Sligo Rovers and Carbury FC player, started for Athlone Town in their SSE Airtricity League First Division game at home to Wexford FC last Friday.
The midlands club won 2-0 at Athlone Town Stadium – this was their fourth win in 27 games. This result also moved them off the bottom of the table. At the end of the July, sixth-placed Wexford defeated Rovers 2-1 after extra-time in the first round of the Extra.ie FAI Men’s Cup.
Drumcliffe’s Fowley stars at Crowley Park
Drumcliffe’s Nicole Fowley scored 14 points for Galwegians in their 74-0 home defeat of Ballincollig in an Energia All-Ireland Women’s Division round one fixture played last Saturday.
Outhalf Fowley, who has represented both Connacht and Ireland, kicked seven conversions at Crowley Park. The hosts, who led 41-0 at half-time, scored 12 tries in this win. Former Sligo Ladies Footballer Fowley is this season’s Galwegians captain.
Public survey on swimming strategy
Sligo people are invited to get involved in the Government’s public consultation on the development of Ireland’s first National Swimming Strategy.
The strategy will be based on a vision to “provide everyone in Ireland with an opportunity to swim”. It will seek to take account of all ages and abilities, recognising the participation potential of swimming over the full life course. Strategies for indoor and outdoor swimming will be considered in recognition of swimming as a life skill and physical activity of choice, as well as a sport.
The online consultation is in the form of a series of multiple choice questions which takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be accessed at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/30ef4-national-swimming-strategy/. Please note that the closing date is Friday, October 7.
Sligo-Leitrim participants for Connacht Cup
Eighteen teams from this season’s Sligo-Leitrim and District Junior Soccer League have confirmed their participation in the Connacht Junior Cup for the 2022-23 season. Taking part in the provincial competition from Sligo-Leitrim will be the following teams: Arrow Harps, Aughanagh Celtic, Carbury FC, Cartron United, Cliffoney Celtic, Ballisodare United, Ballymote Celtic, Ballygawley Celtic, Coolaney United, Calry Bohs, Calry Bohs Reserves, Glenview Stars, MCR FC, Manor Rangers, Real Tubber, Strand Celtic, Strand Celtic Reserves, St John’s FC. Not involved are Kilglass-Enniscrone United, Benbulben FC, Dromahair FC, Chaffpool United, Carrick Town, Gurteen Celtic and Valley Rovers.
ROI and Quinn have a play-off next month
The Republic of Ireland’s women’s national team, which includes Birmingham City player Lucy Quinn, who has Ballymote connections, will take on either Scotland or
WELL DONE: Francis Donoghue, winner of the inaugural Ray Flynn Memorial Run in Calry on the Saturday before last, is presented with his prize by Liz Flynn, wife of the late Ray Flynn, who passed in April.
CONFERENCE CREW: At the recent ICOACHKIDS coaching conference, which was hosted by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership and held at ATU Sligo, were staff from Sligo Sport and Recreationship Partnership and Oisin Foley from Sport Ireland.
Austria in the second round of play-offs for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup. Vera Pauw’s squad will be away to the winners of the round one tie on Tuesday, October 11. If the Republic of Ireland defeat Austria or Scotland next month they’ll qualify for the World Cup finals which take place in Australia and New Zealand.
All-Stars are away in Super League opener
Sligo All-Stars Basketball Club will begin their Basketball Ireland Men’s Super League campaign at the start of next month. The Shane O’Meara-coached EJ Sligo AllStars will be away to Dublin’s DBS Éanna on Saturday, October 1, in the first round of the InsureMyVan.ie Men’s Super League North Conference. EJ Sligo All-Stars’ first home game is the following Saturday, October 8, when they host UCD Marian. On Tuesday of this week the launch took place of the Basketball Ireland National Leagues (men’s and women’s competitions) at the National Basketball Arena, Tallaght.
Sligo LGFA appoint two managers
Sligo LGFA have appointed two inter-county managers for 2023. Taking charge of the Sligo LGFA U-16 team for next year is Gerard Mullaney (St Mary’s) and Sligo’s Minor boss will be Keith McLoughlin (St John’s).
There is also a change in the Sligo LGFA County Board Executive Committee – Aisling Browne, Coolera-Strandhill, comes in as public relations officer. She takes over from
Keith Gilroy. Browne’s appointment and the ratification of Mullaney and McLoughlin took place at the monthly meeting of the Sligo LGFA County Board on Monday of last week.
Meanwhile, it is understood that there are four candidates in the running for the Sligo LGFA adult team role, with interviews taking place this week. The four managerial hopefuls are Anthony Brennan, who was in charge of Sligo for the last two years, Cormac Reape, Frank Browne and Brian Galvin.
Tubber lose out to Headfort at Slieve Russell
Tubbercurry Golf Club lost 3-2 to Headfort (Meath) in the quarter-finals of the AIG Women’s Challenge Cup, a national inter-club competition organised by Golf Ireland. At Slieve Russell on Friday last, Tubbercurry points were won by Ann Conlon and Mary K Johnston, who claimed their ties 4&3 and 2&1 respectively, but losing on the day were Brigie Clarke, Mary Costello and Ann Scanlon. Headfort progressed to last Sunday’s decider, but lost to Greystones. Tubbercurry won the Connacht area title last month
– in the provincial decider they overcame Athlone. En route to provincial success they recorded wins over local rivals Enniscrone and Castle Dargan.
Another start for Kerrigan in Serie B
Tubbercurry’s Liam Kerrigan made another start for his club, Como, in Italy’s Serie B. The attacking midfielder, a Republic of Ireland U-21
international, started last Saturday’s home fixture against Sudtirol. Como, who played most of the second-half with 10 players due to a 50th minute red card, lost 2-0 – the visitors netted twice in the last 10 minutes.
Como, who are second from bottom in the Serie B standings, play their sixth game of the season this Saturday when they host SPAL.
Walkovers in Junior ‘B’ group games
Last Friday’s final round of group games in the Connacht Gold Junior ‘B’ Football Championship produced further walkovers – St John’s conceded against Castleconnor in Group Two, Easkey forfeited their scheduled Group Three
fixture with Tubbercurry and Enniscrone-Kilglass didn’t field against Eastern Harps in Group Four. The Junior ‘B’ quarter-finals take place this weekend.
Jinks praises Doherty’s plans at ATU Sligo
The move by Sligo Rovers senior women’s team striker Emma Doherty to study at ATU Sligo, via a scholarship, and therefore commit her long-term future to the Bit O’Red, has been welcomed by Sligo’s Colm Jinks, the FAI Football Facilitator at ATU Sligo.
Ex-Rovers player Jinks said: “The partnership works for everyone. It is great to have a player of Emma’s ability here with us, not only for ATU Sli
go’s team, but to continue her development at Sligo Rovers. “The [Sligo Rovers] senior women’s team have done so well this year in their firstever season competing in SSE Airtricity Women’s National League and Emma has been a big part of that.”
The coach added: “This shows that young players coming through the club’s academy system will be given an opportunity at senior level and may also enhance their skills by gaining an excellent education at the same time.”
Grange 10k will attract a major crowd
The countdown continues to this year’s Grange 10k road race. This popular road race takes place next month – Sunday, October 2 – with an 11am start.
Organised by North Sligo AC, this 33rd annual event also has a 10k walk that gets underway at 10.30am. The entry fee (for runners and walkers) is €15. Register online via www. nujo.net/grange10km-2022. Race numbers can be collected on the morning of the race (9.30am onwards) from the North Sligo Sports Centre in Grange. Entries will be accepted on the day of the race (entries close at 10.45am). There are individual and team prizes across an array of categories. Chip timing will be in operation. The Grange 10k has an AAI permit.
Rovers players miss out on a WNL selection
For yet another week, there were no Sligo Rovers players named on the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League Team of the Week.
The WNL selection based on the series 22 fixtures – last weekend’s games – featured two players from the Galway WFC side that defeated Rovers 5-2 at The Showgrounds.
Paula McGrory, who scored twice for Rovers in that game, was overlooked for a place in the Team of the Week’s attack.
Superb home win for Arrow Harps teens
The teenagers of Arrow Harps had an impressive win over Donegal’s Cockhill Celtic on Sunday last in the preliminary round of the FAI Youth (Boys U-18) Cup.
Arrow Harps won 5-4 on penalties at Riverstown, with George Collins netting the winning penalty. It finished 3-3 after normal time. On target for the home side against the Buncrana outfit were Niall Kenny, who scored twice, and Oisin Conlon.
Arrow Harps Boys U-18 squad (v Cockhill Celtic): PJ Scanlon, George Barlow, Sean Kelly, Daniel King, Brian Dwyer (gk), James Foley, Liam Snow, George Collins, Niall Kenny, Dara Mostyn, Ciaran Coleman, Darragh Brehony, Oisin Conlon, Ryan Parke.
Local CG areas win medals in team events
Five Sligo Community Games areas won gold medals in last Saturday’s Connacht Community Games team finals. These provincial competitions were held at various venues throughout Sligo, with the Sligo Community Games Executive Committee overseeing the action.
The Connacht titles were won by Ballymote (Girls U-12 7-a-side soccer), Riverstown (Mixed U-12 Skittles), St Feichin’s (Mixed U-16 Skittles), Cornageeha-St Anne’s (Girls U-12 Gaelic Football) and St Mary’s (Boys U-12 soccer). Teams from Rosses Point
MEDAL WINNERS: The North Sligo AC team that won the Male 35+ team category at last Saturday’s Athletics Ireland National Half Marathon at Ratoath, County Meath. Eamon McAndrew, Craig Brennan and Alan Wallace. McAndrew was first home in the Male 45 individual category.
and Cornageeha-St Anne’s were Connacht runners-up – Rosses Point were beaten in the Mixed U-14 Skittles decider and Cornageeha-St Anne’s lost the Girls U-15 Soccer final.
The Sligo teams that won their respective finals will progress to the national finals which will take place at University of Limerick on Saturday week, September 24. A number of categories didn’t have finals at Connacht level and so several areas will go directly to Limerick – among these teams are two tag rugby teams from Coolera, who will compete at national level in the Mixed U-11 Tag Rugby and Mixed U-14 Tag Rugby events.
Sligo players in action for the Eagles
Sligo natives Hubert Gilvarry and Donnacha Byrne were in the Connacht Eagles squad for last Saturday’s fixture in Dublin against Leinster ‘A’ at Energia Park, Donnybrook. The hosts won the fixture, 37-22, and were 22 points up at half-time, 29-7. Gilvarry and Donnacha Byrne were brought on at the start of the second-half at scrumhalf and number eight respectively. The Connacht Eagles team is Conancht Rugby’s second XV.
North Sligo AC savour wins in half-marathon
North Sligo AC won two gold in two team categories at the Athletics Ireland National Half Marathon Championships in County Meath last Saturday. Held alongside the Ratoath Half Marathon, the last 3k of the course took in the famous Fairyhouse racecourse. There was victory for North Sligo AC in the Male
35+ team section as well as the male open team category. In the Male 35+ team category, North Sligo AC were led home by Eamon McAndrew, who celebrated his 47th birthday on the day. McAndrew, who was placed 11th in the overall individual standings, was the first Male 45 runner to finish on a time of 1:12:34.
This was a new personal
best for the 13.1 miles distance – he took 66 seconds off his previous PB – as his tenacious display belied the fact that 12 months ago he underwent ankle surgery and was unable to run for months.
Winning team gold alongside McAndrew were Craig Brennan, who was 52nd on 1:17:49, and Alan Wallace, whose set a new half-marathon PB of 1:18.47. Wallace, a hard-working runner like Brennan, was 65th.
The combined time of McAndrew, Brennan and Wallace was 3:49:10, making North Sligo AC the best of the 39 teams in the Male 35+ section. For the club’s other team gold, in the male open club section, the time of a fourth North Sligo AC runner was added. Feidhlim McGowan, the holder of Sligo’s marathon record, was sixth overall with a time of 1:10.46 (also a PB). When added to the efforts of his three clubmates, North Sligo AC’s time of 4:59:55 secured top spot in a category for the best team overall (irrespective of ages).
North Sligo AC’s women’s team were depleted for this meet but they still took fourth place (from 20 teams) in the Female 35+ section. Running for North Sligo AC here were Aisling van Rensburg (1:36:29), Patricia Lee (1:37:42) and Marita McMorrow (1:38:22). Meanwhile, Michael Gilmartin, 21, completed his first half-marathon for North Sligo AC. He posted a time of 1:21:49. Also competing for North
Sligo AC at these championships were Catherine Lipsett (1:38:49), Mary Gilmartin (mother of the aforementioned Michael), who ran 1:49:42, and club newcomer Aoife Doran (1:49:56).
LGFA’s BUA has two Sligo participants
There are two Sligo participants – Kaylin Monds (Calry-St Joseph’s) and Kayleigh Walsh (St Farnan’s) – in the second Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s BUA leadership and life skills programme. This programme, which is aimed at females aged 16-19 years, will be conducted through expert-led workshops and self-reflection.
Participants will then put their enhanced leadership skills into practice through a club action project. There are 35 participants in the BUA programme which begins this week.
Crunch game for Sligo RFC’s first XV
Sligo RFC’s first XV can take the first available silverware of the season – the Connacht Senior League title – this Saturday at Athlone’s Dubarry Park. A defeat of Buccaneers will give Sligo provincial honours and complete an unbeaten run as they’ve already beaten Galway Corinthians (walkover win), Ballina (45-26) and Galwegians (16-7). In last Saturday’s fourth round (Sligo had a ‘bye’), Buccaneers won 24-10 to Corinthians and Galwegians were 20-12 winners at home to Ballina. Sligo lead the standings on 14 points, with third-placed Buccaneers, on 11 points, also in contention for silverware this weekend.
Meanwhile, last Sunday’s scheduled Curley Cup Pool
‘A’ round two fixture between Sligo RFC’s second XV and Our Lady Boys Club (Galway)
was called off. This was an away game for Sligo.
In the Connacht Women’s Invitational Cup, Sligo RFC’s senior women’s team were 45-0 winners away to Corinthians in a Pool ‘B’ fixture. Featuring a number of newcomers making their debut at senior level, Sligo bagged nine tries in a comprehensive win.
Sligo are at home to Tuam-Oughterard this Sunday (Hamilton Park, 2pm). Galway’s Tuam-Oughterard lost 29-17 at home to Our Lady’s Boys Club last Friday.
Hurling blitz is hosted by St Molaise Gaels
St Molaise Gaels hosted the Evan Doyle Memorial Hurling Tournament at Monsignor Hynes Park, Grange, last Saturday. The host club won the Division One title of this U-13 competition, with honours also going to Western Gaels (Division Two), Easkey (Division Three) and Drumcliffe-Rosses Point (Division Four). The main grade decider was a low-scoring contest, with St Molaise Gaels beating Tourlestrane by a point, 2-3 to 2-2. There were seven clubs involved in this tournament.
BARLOW GAELS: The Barlows, brothers George and David, and their cousin, Andrew, after Shamrock Gaels’ recent victory in the Sligo U-19 ‘B’ Football Championship decider at Markievicz Park.