SPORT ROUND-UP
Emma captains ROI U-19s in Portugal
Sligo Rovers senior women’s team striker Emma Doherty captained the Republic of Ireland U-19 women’s team for the second of their international friendlies against Portugal last week.
On Thursday last Doherty wore the captain’s armband for a game that was won 3-0 by the hosts at the Centro de Estágios do Luso in Luso, Portugal. The previous Tuesday Doherty played in the 0-0 with Portugal – there were 10 changes to the Republic of Ireland’s starting XI that took on the Portuguese on the Thursday.
Doherty, who was replaced at the interval of the second friendly, was the only player to start both games.
Last week’s games were part of the preparations for the upcoming UEFA Women’s U-19 European Championship qualifiers – the Republic of Ireland, whose head coach is Dave Connell, will play Poland, Northern Ireland and France.
Launch of Tubbercurry’s pop-up pool
Swim Ireland’s pop-up pool at Tubbercurry was officially launched yesterday, Wednesday. This Swim Ireland initiative is in conjunction with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership and Sligo County Council.
The pop-up pool will be based for three months in Tubbercurry, an area that does not have a swimming pool. This facility will be available for those learning to swim as well as those who are developing their swimming skills. It will cater for school swimming programmes, evening and weekend swimming lessons, community group sessions as well as private hire.
The pop-up pool is a 12m x 3.4m steel structure which holds 45,000 litres of water and is heated to a balmy 30 degrees. The pool is sheltered from the elements in a hardsided and heated marquee, with changing rooms onsite and an inclusive ramp and hoist. It is indoors, heated, fully equipped, fully accessible and has changing facilities. There are lifeguards and swim teachers on duty and the pop-up pool has capacity for 16 children and 12 adults. Bookings for the pool can be made on the Swim Ireland website, www.swimireland. ie. There will be options for schools, community groups, those learning to swim and aqua aerobics.
Spillane will be the guest at Gaels function
Shamrock Gaels GAA Club are celebrating their 50th anniversary with a special dinner dance at the Clayton Hotel on Saturday, October 22.
Special guest will be Kerry GAA legend and household name Pat Spillane, who retired earlier this year as a pundit on The Sunday Game on RTÉ. Pat’s wife, Rosarii, is native of Sligo and their son, Pat, joined the Sligo senior Gaelic footballers squad this year.
At next month’s gala function, medals will be presented to the Shamrock Gaels panel that won the Sligo LGFA Junior Championship title in 2020 – that presentation was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Shamrock Gaels squad that won the recent Sligo U-19 ‘B’ Football Championship will also be handed their medals on the night.
Tickets for this upcoming function are priced at €40 each and are available from any committee member. Meanwhile, the jackpot in the club’s fundraising lotto has
SUCCESS: Collette English, a medal winner for the Sligo Surf Lifesaving Club’s masters selection at the recent National Senior and Masters Surf Rescue Championships that took place in Rossnowlagh, County Donegal.
SMILES: Female athletes from North Sligo AC who competed in the Athletics Ireland National Half Marathon on the Saturday before last. Patricia Lee, Aisling van Rensburg, Mary Gilmartin, Catherline Lipsett, Marita McMorrow.
reached €3,400. The next draw takes place this Monday, September 26.
Ex-Rovers player helps sink Celtic
Ex-Sligo Rovers striker Jonah Ayunga played a part in St Mirren’s 2-0 defeat of Glasgow Celtic last Sunday – a result that ended Celtic’s 100% start to this season’s Scottish Premiership. It was also Celtic’s first loss in the Scottish Premiership in 364 days. Ayunga, who scored St Mirren’s second goal, a 53rd minute header, played for Rovers for half of the 2017 campaign. Signed in January of 2017 (on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion) as a 19-year-old by then manager Dave Robertson, the striker scored four goals for the club.
Ayunga left The Showgrounds in July – at that stage Rovers had a new boss, Gerard Lyttle – and the striker subsequently had a spell with Galway United.
Rovers teen Duffy plays for ROI in Wales
Emma Duffy, who is a member of the Sligo Rovers Academy, was in the Republic of Ireland U-16 women’s squad for two recent friendlies against Wales.
This Republic of Ireland side, with Tom Elmes as head coach, played Wales at Dragon Park, Newport, twice last week – Tuesday, September 13, and Thursday, September 15. Midfielder Duffy, who plays for the Rovers U-17 women’s team, started last Thursday’s fixture.
The Republic of Ireland won both games, a 5-1 result on the Tuesday and a 1-0 outcome on Thursday last. Duffy hails from Mayo and studies at Davitt College, Castlebar.
Fowley earns a late draw for Galwegians
Drumcliffe’s Nicole Fowley delivered another captain’s performance for Galwegians in this season’s Energia All-Ireland Women’s Division. Her conversion late in the second-half earned Galwegians a draw, 31-31, away to Suttonians at the JJ McDowell Memorial Grounds last Satruday.
The outhalf also scored one of her side’s five tries and kicked three conversions. Galwegians were 24-7 up at halftime in this round two fixture. Elsewhere in the Energia All-Ireland Women’s Division, the McDermott sisters from Riverstown, Aoife and Sonia, helped Dublin club Railway Union win 24-5 away to UL Bohemians. It was level at half-time.
Co Sligo GC lose out in AIG Men’s Junior Cup
County Sligo Golf Club were beaten by Cork Golf Club in the national semi-final of the AIG Men’s Junior Cup on Sunday last at Knightsbrook Golf Club in Co. Meath.
The Rosses Point club lost 4-1. There were losses for Daniel Flanagan and John Paul Flanagan, while David McDermott and Christopher Longworth both halved their ties. County Sligo were 3-2 quarter-final winners over Dundalk on the day before, Saturday. Daniel Flanagan, Tom Flanagan and John Paul Flanagan won their matches, but there were losses for David McDermott and Christopher Longworth.
Also in the County Sligo squad for last weekend’s All-Ireland stages of the AIG Men’s Junior Cup were Terry Brady, Ronan Forkin and Conor Meade.
The AIG Men’s Junior
Cup, part of Golf Ireland’s inter-club series for 2022, was won by Dublin’s Castle Golf Club, who beat Cork 4-1 in the decider. County Sligo won the Connacht section of this year’s AIG Men’s Junior Cup on Saturday, August 20, when they defeated Athlone in the provincial decider. They defeated two of their their Sligo rivals, Enniscrone and Strandhill, in the earlier rounds.
Semi-finals pairings in Junior ‘B’
The semi-finals in the Connacht Gold Junior ‘B’ Football Championship will see St Patrick’s take on Tubbercurry and Coolera-Strandhill against Eastern Harps.
In last weekend’s quarter-finals, St Patrick’s defeated Owenmore Gaels 3-12 to 1-11 (a game in which Jack Clarke scored 3-1 for St Patrick’s),
Coolera-Strandhill were 3-13 to 0-8 winners over Calry-St Joseph’s, Eastern Harps defeated Drumcliffe-Rosses Point by 12 points, 2-14 to 0-8, and Tubbercurry overcame St Mary’s, 2-14 to 2-8.
The Junior ‘B’ county semi-finals are scheduled for the weekend after next.
Gary bags an assist in the First Division
Sligo native Gary Armstrong was involved in another good result for Athlone Town in the SSE Airtricity League First Division. The attacking midfielder supplied the assist for Athlone’s first goal – scored by Thomas Oluwa after 18 minutes – in their 3-1 away win over Cobh Ramblers last
Friday night.
Armstrong is a former Sligo
Rovers player who also starred in the Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League with Carbury FC.
This defeat of Cobh was Athlone’s fifth win (from 28 games) and they’re off the bottom of the table. Athlone are next in action on Friday week, September 30, when they host Longford Town.
Cork City currently lead the First Division standings and are favourites for silverware and automatic promotion.
McNicholas is named in ROI U-21 squad
Sligo Rovers goalkeeper Luke McNicholas is in the 25-man Republic of Ireland U-21 men’s soccer squad for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship play-off against Israel. The first leg of this play-off takes place tomorrow, Friday, at Tallaght Stadium. Ex-Rovers player Liam Kerrigan, who hails from Tubbercurry, was named among the seven attackers in the original squad that was selected by manager Jim Crawford. But Kerrigan, who plays for Como in Italy’s Serie B, is one of four players forced to withdraw because of injury.
This week’s game has a 7pm start at the home of Shamrock Rovers and next Tuesday’s second leg is scheduled for Bloomfield Stadium, Tel Aviv (7pm start, Irish time).
The two other goalkeepers picked for these U-21 internationals along with Luke McNicholas are also from the SSE Airtricity League – David Odomosu (St Patrick’s Athletic) and Brian Maher (Derry City). Odomosu was called up as a replacement for the injured David Harrington – the Cork City goalkeeper was initially named in the squad. Crawford has called up Republic of Ireland senior men’s forward Aaron Connolly who is still eligible for this grade.
Busy weekend for Bit O’Red academy teams
It was another hectic weekend for the Sligo Rovers Academy as all six teams competed. The U-19 men’s team were comprehensive 4-1 winners over Dundalk in the quarter-final of the Enda McGuill Cup. Bridel Bosakani scored a brace, while Conor Campbell and Luke Mavrak grabbed a goal each. They now host St Patrick’s Athletic in the competition semi-final on Sunday, October 9.
The U-17 men’s team had a difficult day away to Bray Wanderers, losing 6-1. Luke Mavrak netted for Rovers in this fixture. The Boys U-15s were 2-1 winners away to Cobh Ramblers courtesy of goals from Danny Woodrow and Darragh McKeown, while the Boys U-14s lost 7-0 to Bohemians.
Rovers’ U-19 women’s team were in cup quarter-final action but lost 3-0 to Peamount United. The club’s U-17 women’s team had an impressive 2-1 win over Shelbourne – the winners’ goals came from
Cara King and Orna Murphy.
Brennan takes charge of Sligo Ladies team
Tourlestrane’s Anthony Brennan has returned for a third term as manager of the Sligo Ladies Football adult county team. Brennan, an experienced manager at inter-club and inter-county level, was at the helm in 2021 and this year. For 2023, Sligo LGFA had a selection process whereby managers involved this year had to re-apply and be interviewed along with other candidates.
Sligo will compete in the LGFA All-Ireland Junior Championship next year and Division Three of the National
WINNERS: The squad representing St Mary’s Community Games that won the Connacht Community Games Boys U-12 outdoor soccer title, part of the provincial team events finals hosted by Sligo Community Games on the weekend before last. St Mary’s will compete at national level this coming Saturday at the University of Limerick.
Football League. Brennan, whose re-appointment was confirmed earlier this week, has been given a two-year term.
Sligo LGFA have also given inter-county managerial roles for the season ahead to Keith McLoughlin (Sligo Minor team), Gerard Mullaney (Sligo U-16 team) and Fiona Lyons (Sligo U-14 team).
“We wish these managers all the best in their respective roles and we look forward to working with them,” said a statement from Sligo LGFA.
Victories for three Sligo RFC youth teams
Three of Sligo RFC’s youth teams were in action on Sunday last, with all three securing victories.
In Division One of the Connacht Boys U-15 League, Sligo won narrowly away to Galway Corinthians Black, 15-14, scoring three tries at Corinthian Park. Sligo are away to Carrick RFC in round two on Sunday week, October 2.
Sligo defeated Ballina at Hamilton Park, Strandhill, in a high-scoring Boys U-17 fixture. It finished 36-34 in favour of the hosts, who bagged half a dozen tries. Visitors Ballina also scored six tries.
In the Boys U-18.5 grade, Sligo were too strong for Ballina, winning 39-0. The home side scored seven tries in this game.
O’Hara’s Mohill are through to a semi-final
Tourlestrane’s Eamonn O’Hara has guided Mohill to the semi-finals of the Leitrim Senior Football Championship. Mohill, who were last year’s county finalists, defeated holders Ballinamore-Sean O’Heslin’s in last Saturday’s quarter-final. Mohill won by seven points, 2-15 to 1-11.
In the Leitrim SFC semi-finals,
Mohill will take on Leitrim Gaels, with St Mary’s drawn against Fenagh-St Caillin’s.
O’Hara was joint-manager of Tourlestrane, along with Gerry McGowan, for the south Sligo club’s historic five-in-arow of Sligo Senior Football Championships (2016-2020). This is O’Hara’s first term in charge of Mohill. He was part of the Sligo U-20 management team for this year’s Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship breakthrough. Mohill were last Leitrim county champions in 2020.
One of Mohill’s stars is Keith Beirne, a Leitrim player. The club won the Leitrim Senior Football League Division One title last month – O’Hara’s first silverware with the club.
Big fixture for Molloy and Devaney
Two former Sligo Rovers Academy players, Gurteen’s Roisin Molloy and Muireann Devaney of Manorhamilton, have an Evoke.ie FAI Women’s Cup semi-final this coming Sunday when their club, Athlone Town, take on holders Wexford Youths (4.30pm). In Sunday’s other semi-final, Shelbourne play Bohemians. In this season’s SSE Airtricity Women’s National League, which features Rovers for the first time, Wexford Youths lead the standings, with Shelbourne placed second and Athlone in fourth position. Bohemians, who defeated Rovers in last month’s FAI Women’s Cup quarter-final, are sixth.
Scór Shligigh launch night at the Clayton
Tomorrow, Friday, night, the Sligo GAA Scór Committee are holding a Scór Shligigh launch night at the Clayton Hotel. Starting at 8.30pm, there will be a number of guests in attendance, including
Roscommon’s Thomas Murray (national chair of Coiste Náisiúnta Scór), Vincent Neary (chair, Coiste Scór Chonnacht) and Sean Carroll, Sligo GAA chairman. Light refreshments will be served and their will be musical entertainment from former All-Ireland Scór winners.
The Sligo GAA Scór Committee is comprised of the following: Joe Brady, Catherine Gallagher, Teresa McCormack, Aoife Connolly, Hughie Gallagher, Dermot Gannon, Bernardine McGauran, Gerry O’Connor and Peter Farrell.
Rovers to play Galway United in a friendly
Sligo Rovers’ first team are taking on Connacht rivals Galway United in a friendly tomorrow, Friday, at The Showgrounds. This game starts at 2pm. Admission is €10 for adults and €5 for everyone else. Because of the Republic of Ireland U-21 men’s game
against Israel at Tallaght Stadium (7pm), the Rovers friendly can’t have an evening kick-off.
Galway are currently second from top in the SSE Airtricity League First Division, seven points off leaders and title favourites Cork City – but Galway, who defeated Cork 2-1 last Friday at Eamonn Deacy Park, have a game in hand. Meanwhile, Rovers’ SSE Airtricity League Premier Division home fixture against Derry City, which was originally scheduled for Saturday, October 15, has been moved to Monday, October 24 (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm).
This game was moved because Derry have qualified for the semi-finals of the Extra.ie FAI Men’s Cup. Derry will host Treaty United at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Sunday, October 16, with the other semi-final – Waterford FC at home to Shelbourne FC – taking place the same day. Rovers’ next competitive game is on Saturday week, October 1, when they host Shamrock Rovers.
GOLF WINNER: Kim Lee, winner of the women’s competition at the recent Castle Dargan Golf Club President’s Day, is presented with her prize by Castle Dargan president Pauline Lennon.