SPORT ROUND-UP
Scarden will host a SHC semi-final
The second of the Sligo Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals takes place this Saturday when Naomh Eoin, last year’s runners-up, play Coolera-Strandhill at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence (4pm). Naomh Eoin are looking to qualify for what will be a fifth successive county final at this level. Champions for the first time in 2019, when they defeated Easkey, they’ve since lost the 2020 and 2021 finals to Easkey. Coolera-Strandhill defeated Naomh Eoin in the 2018 decider.
In this year’s group stage, Naomh Eoin defeated Coolera-Strandhill 3-25 to 2-4 but initially trailed in this fixture at Kent Park. The winner of Saturday’s semi-final will play holders Easkey in the county final later this month.
Sligo Tennis Club welcomes new members
Sligo Tennis Club is always welcoming new members, either to take up or get back involved in tennis, squash and badminton.
In the months ahead the club is hoping to resurface its tennis courts. The club has available membership offers for those who want to try tennis, squash or badminton. Anyone with an interest in joining the club should contact Conor on 085 8851179 or 071 9162580.
Rugby girls win thanks to a comeback
Sligo RFC’s Girls U-16 team overturned a 13-point deficit to record a 23-point home win, 53-30, against Galway Corinthians last Saturday in what proved an initially tough Connacht Girls U-16 League Division One fixture.
The visitors scored four of their six tries in the first-half and led 20-7 at one stage at Hamilton Park.
But Sligo rallied superbly and they were a point up at the interval, 21-20. A brace of tries from outhalf Lara
Clinch at the end of the opening period helped put Sligo in front.
The Lauren Hunter-captained Sligo dominated the second-half, adding a further 32 points. They finished with a haul of seven tries, six conversions and two penalties. Among Sligo’s scorers in the second-half was Lauren Maye who, in only her second game of rugby, bagged a try.
Sligo RFC Girls U-16 (v Galway Corinthians): Jace Maxwell, Lauren Hunter (c), Maya Donaghy, Caoimhe Daly, Kate Golden, Leia Meehan, Alba Ruiz de Alda, Mimi Lee, Mollie Ronan, Lara Clinch, Lauren Maye, Rebecca Doherty,
Freyja Mullen, Saoirse Love, Emma Meehan.
Inter relegation decider is given a new date
St John’s and Ballymote can still consider themselves part of the Connacht Gold Intermediate Football Championship – for another week at least. They were scheduled to meet this Saturday in the second tier’s relegation final, with the loser heading down to the Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship for 2023. But because a number of the St John’s Gaelic footballers also play hurling for Naomh Eoin, whose county semi-final is against Coolera-Strandhill this coming Saturday, the relegation decider has been put back until Saturday week, October 15, at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence, Scarden (4pm).
PRE-MATCH SMILES: Prior to the Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Junior ‘C’ Championship final at Quigabar last Saturday were, Eimear Kelly (captain, St Patrick’s), Eugene McHale (referee) and Hannah Monaghan (captain, St Mary’s). St Patrick’s won this final.
WINNING TEAM: The team representing Our Lady of Mercy Primary School, Pearse Road, that won the Senior Girls 4x100 metres Relay event at last Thursday’s Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership SuperValu Primary Schools Athletics Fest at ATU Sligo.
Gary plays for Athlone against Longford
Sligo’s Gary Armstrong – the former Sligo Rovers and Carbury FC player – started for Athlone Town last Friday in their 2-2 home draw with Longford Town.
The home side led 1-0 after five minutes and 2-1 with 42 minutes played. But Longford equalised in the 61st minute. Athlone are currently second from bottom in the SSE Airtricity League First Division, four points above bottom side Cobh Ramblers.
Tomorrow, Friday, night, Athlone are away to second-placed Galway United, who are six points behind leaders Cork City.
Harps are through to the Junior ‘B’ final
Eastern Harps have qualified for the Connacht Gold Junior ‘B’ Football Championship final thanks to last Saturday’s 12-point defeat of Coolera-Strandhill, 2-12 to 0-6, at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence in Scarden. In difficult underfoot conditions – due to heavy rain before throw-in – the winners’ impressive first-half, when they established a 10-point lead, 2-6 to 0-2, set them up for a county final meeting with Tubbercurry, who were 2-10 to 0-7 winners over St Patrick’s in Saturday’s other semi-final played at Kent Park.
Former Sligo ace Ross Donovan played a part in both of the game’s goals which were scored by Ciaran Hannon and
Niall McGill. Coolera-Strandhill, who didn’t score until the 20th minute, let themselves down by kicking seven first-half wides. Among the Coolera-Strandhill scorers were Barry Doyle and Francis Gaughan, while Karol O’Neill worked hard. The second-half saw Eastern Harps score six further points, with Coolera-Strandhill adding 0-4 to their first-half tally. David Sheppard bagged 0-5 for Eastern Harps, who clash with Tubbercurry is scheduled for Saturday, October 15.
Second XV are through to a Shield final
Sligo RFC’s second XV have qualified for the Shield final of this season’s Curley Cup.
Last Sunday they were 30-20 winners away to Claremorris (first XV) in the Shield semi-final, scoring four tries compared to the home side’s brace of five-pointers. Sligo’s opponents in the Shield final will be Ballinasloe’s first XV.
Rovers duo in ROI U-19 squad for qualifiers
Two members of the Sligo Rovers women’s senior team, Emma Doherty and Kerri O’Hara, are in the Republic of Ireland women’s U-19 squad for the UEFA Women’s U-19 European Championships qualifying round (League ‘A’, Group Five) in Poland. On Tuesday the Republic of Ireland drew 1-1 with Poland, the hosts of this qualifying group. Emma Doherty played the full game at the Plewiska
Stadium. Shelbourne defender Jessie Stapleton converted a 57th minute penalty to put the Republic of Ireland ahead, but Poland levelled matters five minutes later.
Tomorrow, Friday, the Dave Connell-coached Republic of Ireland play Northern Ireland, who lost 5-1 to France earlier this week. On Monday next the Republic of Ireland are up against France.
The Republic of Ireland must finish in the group’s top two in order to reach the elite round of qualifying. Meanwhile, Alice Lillie, a member of the Sligo Rovers women’s U-17 team who has also featured at U-19 level, was in the Republic of Ireland women’s U-17 squad for two
friendlies away to Portugal. Lillie, a defender, started last Thursday’s game – which ended 3-3 – and was replaced after 57 minutes. The Ursuline College student didn’t feature in the second friendly which took place last Sunday.
Kenny starts in attack for Queen’s Park
Riverstown’s Johnny Kenny, the former Sligo Rovers striker, started for Queen’s Park in their 1-0 home defeat of Raith Rovers in a Scottish Championship fixture last Sat
urday. Kenny, who is on loan at Queen’s Park from Scottish Premiership outfit Glasgow Celtic, was replaced after 64 minutes. This result moves Queen’s Park up to second in the Scottish Championship standings, a point behind leaders Partick Thistle.
Quinn named in the ROI squad for WC play-off
Republic of Ireland senior women’s soccer international Lucy Quinn – who has Ballymote connections – has been named in the Republic of Ireland women’s national team squad for the FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying play-off on Tuesday next, October 11. In this play-off the Vera Pauw-managed squad will be away to either Scotland or Austria, who play each other today, Thursday. Preparations began earlier this week at the FAI National Training Centre. The Republic of Ireland have never previously reached the FAI Women’s World Cup.
The squad will depart from Dublin this coming Sunday, October 9, with their destination either Glasgow or Vienna.
MacSharry Park will host major games
Today, Thursday, Sligo town’s MacSharry Park – headquarters of the Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League – hosts the FAI Schools First Year Boys (U-14) National Cup semi-final between Connacht champions St Joseph’s College (Galway) and Ulster winners Loreto Community School from Milford. This game on the MacSharry Park astroturf pitch starts at 1pm. On Tuesday next, October 11, MacSharry Park is also the setting for the FAI Schools First Year Girls (U-14) National Cup semi-final between Ulster champions Scoil Mhuire, Buncrana (Donegal) and Presentation College Athenry (Galway), who are the Connacht representatives. This game kicks-off at 12 noon.
Victories for O’Hara and Clancy
Two Sligo natives, Eamonn O’Hara and Padraig Clancy, were involved in major fixtures in the Connacht Gold Leitrim GAA Senior Football Championship last weekend. Padraig Clancy guided St Patrick’s Dromahair to victory over Melvin Gaels in the Leitrim GAA Senior Football Championship relegation final last Sunday.
A goal in second-half added time gave St Patrick’s Dromahair, last year’s Leitrim Intermediate Football Championship winners, a one-point victory, 2-11 to 2-10. Melvin Gaels led by two points at halftime.
Last Saturday, meanwhile, Eamonn O’Hara was in charge of the Mohill side that has qualified for a third successive Leitrim county final. Mohill were 2-10 to 1-10 winners over Leitrim Gaels at Avant Money Páirc Sean Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon.
In the other semi-final, which was level after normal time and extra-time, St Mary’s Kiltoghert defeated Fenagh St Caillin’s 5-4 on penalties.
Molloy and Devaney are in WNL race
Not only have two former Sligo Rovers Academy players, Gurteen’s Roisin Molloy and Manorhamilton’s Muireann Devaney, helped Athlone
Town qualify for the Evoke.ie FAI Women’s Cup final next month, they are involved in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League title race. Athlone’s 2-1 home defeat of Wexford Youths last Saturday – almost a week after the midlands club defeated Wexford in the FAI Women’s Cup semi-final – leaves fourth-placed Athlone three points behind current leaders Wexford. Roisin Molloy’s cross led to Athlone’s equaliser last Saturday, scored by Kellie Brennan, with the hosts claiming what proved to be the winning goal when Gillian Keenan scored with a header from an 81st minute corner. There are three series of games left in the season.
Athlone are away to both Treaty United (October 15) and Bohemians (October 29),with a home game against Galway WFC (October 22).
McGowan takes first place in the Grange 10k
North Sligo AC’s Feidhlim McGowan took first place in last Sunday’s Grange 10k, one
RUGBY PALS: Members of the Sligo RFC Girls U-16 panel who defeated Galway Corinthians in a Connacht Girls U-16 League Division One fixture that took place on Saturday last at Hamilton Park, Strandhill.
of the north-west region’s most popular road races. McGowan, Sligo’s marathon record holder, clocked 32:53 to finish over a minute ahead of runner-up Desi Foley, whose time was 34:30. Foley was the first Male 40 finisher.
This was a successful title defence for McGowan, 30, who also won the Paddy Brennan Plaque last year. But he was unable to break the course record of 32:27 that he posted in 2021. Completing the top five were Conor Brennan (third, 34:59), Declan Brennan (fourth, 35:30) and Donal Egan (fifth, 36:24). Eamon Murphy, who won the Male 50 section, was eighth overall (36:39).
The first female to cross the line was Nicola Casey – she was 22nd overall with a time of 41:32. Casey was the first Female 40 runner.
Valerie Petrova and Marita McMorrow were the second and third females home. Petrova (27th) clocked 42:31 and McMorrow’s time was 44:21.
Sheridan has a new role with Munster Rugby
Munster Rugby’s new sport and performance psychologist is Sligo man Cathal Sheridan, who played professional rugby with Munster. Previously in the role was Grange’s Caroline Currid, a leading performance psychologist. She was there last season during the tenure of former head coach Johann van Graan. Currid is well-known for her work with All-Ireland winning teams in Gaelic football and hurling, including those of Tyrone, Tipperary, Dublin and Limerick.
DRP are now a ‘genuine’ force says club PRO
Drumcliffe-Rosses Point GAA Club are on the rise – according to club PRO Austin O’Callaghan.
The club’s senior Gaelic footballers lost last Sunday’s Homeland Senior Football Championship semi-final,
beaten 3-1 on penalties by St Mary’s after normal time and extra-time couldn’t produce a winner.
Although Drumcliffe-Rosses Point have yet to win the Owen B Hunt Cup, they were county finalists two years ago.
“To lose on penalty kicks is cruel way to go out but that should not detract from the superb effort which Fergal O’Flaherty’s team have put in this year,” said O’Callaghan. “To reach the last four of the Homeland Senior Football Championship for three consecutive seasons underlines that this collection of players are no ‘flash in the pan’.
“They are a genuine force to be reckoned with in senior football in Sligo. And they’re developing – as illustrated by the exciting young talent across all sectors of the pitch who continue to blossom.” Drumcliffe-Rosses Point contest the Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Championship final this weekend (they play Shamrock Gaels) and the Expert Electrical Sligo U-17 ‘A’ Football Championship Cup final on October 16 when they face St Mary’s.
St Molaise GAA pay tribute to Seamus
St Molaise Gaels GAA Club is mourning the passing of club patron Seamus Fitzpatrick, Moneygold, who died last Saturday. Fitzpatrick served the club as a player, club officer and patron. In the 1970s he was a selector with the Sligo senior Gaelic football team. In a statement, St Molaise Gaels paid tribute to Fitzpatrick. “He was a passionate GAA man who attended inter-club and inter-county fixtures up to very recently and was a regular at All-Ireland finals along with his late wife Nora.
“He always supported the club in our efforts to improve facilities and standards but mostly he loved the game.”
“He would be very proud to see both our Junior ‘A’ and Intermediate championship squads in county final action this coming weekend.”
Medals won by swimmers at a national gig
Sligo competitors claimed a total of seven medals in the swimming categories at the Aldi Community Games national finals that were held on the Saturday before last at University of Limerick.
The gold medal winners were Rian Brett (Boys U-10 Freestyle, one length), Fiadh Brett (Girls U-8 Freestyle, one length), Matthew O’Grady (Boys U-14 Backstroke, two lengths) and Clara Doherty (Girls U-16 Freestyle, two lengths). The Bretts are from the Coolera Community Games area, with O’Grady from Skreen-Dromard and Doherty representing Aughanagh. Rosses Point’s Grace Newell took a silver medal back to Sligo following her exertions in the Girls U-12 Freestyle (two lengths).
Saoire McDaniel (St Mary’s) and Kyle Kelly (Coolaney) each won bronze. McDaniel competed in the Girls U-12 Backstroke (two lengths) and Kelly’s category was the Boys
U-16 Butterfly (two lengths). Geevagh’s Jake Noone was fourth in the Boys U-14 Butterfly category.
Fowley aims to maintain good form
Drumcliffe’s Nicole Fowley returns to action this Saturday with Galwegians in the Energia All-Ireland Women’s Division. The Galway club, currently second in the standings, a point behind leaders Old Belvedere, are away to Blackrock College. Outhalf Fowley, the Galwegians captain, has contributed 41 points from the opening three games – a 76-0 home defeat of Ballincollig, an away draw with Suttonians (31-31) and a victory against Cooke, 29-5, at Crowley Park. The McDermott sisters from Riverstown, Aoife and Sonia, are part of the Railway Union side that is third in the nineteam division.
Meanwhile, in the Connacht Women’s Invitational Cup, Sligo lost 27-12 at home to Our Lady’s Boys Club last Sunday. Sligo scored two tries.
WEST BATTLE: Action from the Sligo Senior Hurling Championship semifinal between holders Easkey and Western Gaels that took place at St Brendan’s GAA Park, Corballa, on Sunday last.