Energia All-Ireland League
come.
He hopes to have a different perspective, having spent some time away from coaching, but the drive remains – improve the players available to him, win games, make the loyal fans proud and, hopefully, be in the mix for provincial silverware and AIL promotion.
A positive portent in recent weeks were the performances in the Connacht Senior League – Sligo won three of their four fixtures, albeit one of these was via a walkover.
They only missed out on the title because of a try conceded in added time of their round five game against Buccaneers in Athlone’s Dubarry Park.
Pearson wants to utilise several of the club’s up and coming stars – one exciting addition to the first XV panel is Darragh Feehily, younger brother of Ryan Feehily – but he emphasised the need for a reliable core, players who will deliver on the good and bad days.
Experienced forwards Jason East, Shane O’Hehir and Tom Gormley have returned to bolster the pack and there’s an Irish-qualified New Zealander Finn Bamber in the backs, a talented unit that boasts scoring machine Euan Brown, the team’s kicker and playmaker. Jack Keegan, who has starred at full-back in previous seasons, has also returned.
Ryan Feehily will return when his GAA season concludes and Pearson also hopes to have access to Sligo RFC’s two Connacht Rugby Academy players, Donnacha Byrne and Hubert Gilvarry, who’ve already been getting minutes with the Connacht Eagles.
With quite a number of Sligo’s players based around the country during the week, there’s the ongoing work of keeping everyone up to speed with tactics and routines on the pitch.
The rollercoaster starts this Saturday with a trip to Belfast. On Saturday week, October 8, Sligo have their first home game when they host Dublin outfit Malahide.
In terms of rivalries within Connacht this season, Sligo will play two Galway clubs, Galwegians and Corinthians.
“I’m back in the hotseat, for my sins!” quipped Pearson, who will be juggling this demanding coaching role along with work and family commitments.
“I think I have a different attitude now – I don’t get as fazed by certain things as I would have done before.
“We have got a lot of good, young players coming through and it is important that we have experience in the panel to help these guys develop.”
He continued: “If you want to be successful in the AIL you need a strong tight five, depth in the squad and leaders in the group.
“Every game in Division 2B is winnable and losable, points difference will be crucial and bonus points will be massive, as always.” In this regard, Pearson wants to see Sligo push on for more tries in games where they are in control and on those difficult days he wants the players to dig in and minimise the losing margins. He added: “It is all about momentum but we have to take it game by game and according to the block of fixtures as they come along.” Getting to the promotion play-offs – via a place in the top four – is the overall target, getting off to a good start in round one is this weekend’s target. Welcome back, Paddy.
R6: R8: R10: R12: