SPORT ROUND-UP
Tough World Cup draw for ROI women
The Republic of Ireland women’s national team will take on co-hosts Australia, Canada and Nigeria in Group ‘B’ of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup which takes place in Australia and New Zealand.
Lucy Quinn, an international with Ballymote connections, hopes to be in manager Vera’s Pauw’s final squad selection for the tournament which begins on July 20, 2023, and continues to the final which is scheduled for August 20. This is the first time that the Republic of Ireland will compete at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Former Rovers manager loses his NI post
Ian Baraclough, Sligo Rovers’ most successful manager, has been sacked as boss of the Northern Ireland senior men’s team. Baraclough, 51, was removed from his position following a meeting of the Irish Football Association’s board last Thursday night.
During his Northern Ireland tenure, which lasted almost two and a half years, Baraclough oversaw seven wins, seven draws and 13 losses. He was previously in charge of the Northern Ireland U-21 men’s team for three years. He took over from Michael O’Neill as Northern Ireland’s senior men’s team manager in June of 2020.
When he was at The Showgrounds, he guided the Bit O’Red to a Premier Division title (2012), FAI Cup (2013) and Setanta Sports Cup (2014). Appointed as Rovers manager in February of 2012, replacing
Paul Cook, he was let go by the club in June of 2014. Following his successful time in the north-west, the English man had managerial spells as Motherwell and Oldham (as assistant manager).
Co Sligo duo compete in Donegal
David Dunne and Seryth Heavey, both of County
Sligo Golf Club, competed in Golf Ireland’s Ulster Men’s Mid-Amateur Open at Portsalon links last week. Dunne finished 10th on the Donegal course with a score of 231 from his three rounds (78, 75, 78), with Heavey in 14th place overall on 232 (72, 79, 81).
The competition was won on Friday last by Rory Leonard (Banbridge Golf Club), who defeated Rosslare Golf Club’s Ian Lynch in a three-hole play-off. After 54 holes in the two-day contest, Leonard and Lynch each tallied 219. Niall Carroll (Dunmurry Golf Club) was third overall.
‘West’ winners on Golf Ireland HP panel
Two of the golfers in the
Golf Ireland Men’s High Performance Squad for 2023 are former winners of the West of Ireland Amateur Open
Golf Championship at Rosses Point, home of County Sligo Golf Club.
Hugh Foley (Royal Dublin Golf) and Robert Brazil (Naas Golf Club), who are among the 12 golfers selected on the high performance squad, won the West of Ireland in 2021 and 2018 respectively.
There are no Sligo golfers on either the men’s high performance squad or the women’s high performance squad for next year.
Night out for St Patrick’s GAA Club
St Patrick’s GAA Club are holding their dinner dance and medal presenation on Saturday, November 19, at the Sligo Park Hotel. The west Sligo club’s function begins at 7.30pm. Medals will be presented to the club’s successful adult teams, among them the Ladies Footballers who won league and championship honours this year. Tickets for next month’s bash are available at Collery’s, Ardabrone Stores or via Revolut to @gerardclarke2022.
Kenny plays in Queen’s Park win
Riverstown’s Johnny Kenny was a second-half substitute for Queen’s Park in their
4-0 away win over Partick Thistle on Saturday last – a result at Maryhill that moved Queen’s Park to within a point of Scottish Championship leaders Inverness CT.
Striker Kenny, who is on loan at Queen’s Park from Scottish Premiership outfit Glasgow Celtic, was brought on after 68 minutes and he brought a save from Partrick Thistle goalkeeper Jamie Sneddon with a shot 10 minutes later.
Kenny had an eventual cameo – he was booked and also had another shot at goal, an effort that was wide.
Gaels hold a successful function
Shamrock Gaels GAA Club held a dinner dance last Saturday night at the Clayton Hotel to mark the club’s 50th anniversary. The special guest on the night was former Kerry legend and ex-RTÉ GAA pundit Pat Spillane.
There were medal presentations made to three adult squads – the Shamrock Gaels Ladies Footballers that won the Sligo LGFA Junior Championship two years ago (this medal presentation was delayed because of Covid-19), the club’s U-19 panel (Sligo U-19 ‘B’ Football Championship winners) and Junior squad (Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship winners).
Among the individual award winners were Ben Tuohy (Senior Player of the Year), Steven Willis (Junior ‘A’ Player of the Year), Paul Leydon (Junior ‘B’ Player of the Year) and Dylan McKenna (U-19 Player of the Year).
There was a special presentation made to the organisers of the May fundraiser that generated over €28,000 for North West Hospice. The Lyons family sponsored this award – in memory of the late John Lyons – that went to Mark Tuohy, Frank Quinn, Mark Boyd, Brian Boyd, Niall Henry and Paul Higgins.
The club also made presentations to Lee Deignan, who was part of the Sligo team that won the Connacht GAA U-20 Football Championship this year, and Paul Higgins, who was part of that provincial-winning team’s management.
Fowley is unavailable for home loss
Galwegians were without Drumcliffe’s Nicole Fowley for the 57-7 home defeat to Railway Union in the Energia All-Ireland League Women’s Division last Saturday.
There was a Sligo involvement, however, with Aoife McDermott starting for the winners at Crowley Park and her sister, Sonia, among the Dublin club’s replacements. Railway Union, who scored nine tries, were 26-7 up at halftime. Galwegians are fourth in the standings and unbeaten Railway Union lead the table ahead of Old Belvedere and Blackrock College.
Brennan Cup hurling final is postponed
The Sligo Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship final (Martin Brennan Cup) between Coolera-Strandhill and Western Gaels was postponed.
The game was scheduled to take place at the Sligo GAA Centre of Excellence at Scarden last Sunday but the pitches were unplayable due to last weekend’s heavy rainfall. The ‘B’ decider was originally a curtain-raiser to last Sunday’s Sligo Senior Hurling Championship final at Markievicz Park – Easkey’s clash with Naomh Eoin – but was moved to Scarden, a decision made on Saturday because of the weekend’s bad weather. The inaugural Sligo Senior ‘B’ Hurling Championship isn’t a separate competition – the final is a fixture for the beaten Sligo SHC semi-finalists.
Galwegians test for Sligo RFC’s first XV
Sligo RFC’s first XV resume their Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B campaign this Saturday with an away fixture against one of their Connacht rivals, Galwegians, at Galway’s Crowley Park (2.30pm start). Paddy Pear
son’s charges have had mixed results so far – an away loss against Belfast Harlequins in round one (26-9), a home defeat of Malahide (18-11) and then a 14-13 reversal to Rainey Old Boys at Hamilton Park when they were stung by a late converted try.
Galwegians have lost all three of their games so far in the All-Ireland League’s fourth tier – they’ve been beaten by Dungannon (33-7), Galway Corinthians (58-21) and Belfast Harlequins (38-22).
Kilroy wins a competition in Tubbercurry
James Kilroy won the 9-hole strokeplay competition that took place at Tubbercurry Golf Club last weekend.
The winner’s score was 17 points. He finished ahead of Marc McCausland (second) and Dessie Flynn (third). The sponsors of this competition were the Yeats County Inn, Curry.
Winter League begins at Castle Dargan GC
The club’s Winter League commenced last weekend.
This season’s competition is sponsored by Pet Stop Discount Warehouse & Fuel Centre.
The Winter League takes place over nine weekends – there are eight remaining. Each stableford round is played over nine holes – the best four cards will count. Visitors can take part for an entry fee of €50. The fee for members is €10. There are an array of prizes on offer, including Christmas turkeys sponsored by Tony Wasylocha Butchers, Riverstown.
For further details on the Winter League and to enter, contact the golf shop on 071 9118541.
Bit O’Red fans are asked for their vote
Sligo Rovers fans are encouraged to vote for the club’s senior men’s Player of the Year. The candidates are Aidan Keena, Nando Pijnaker, Shane Blaney, Will Fitzgerald, Paddy Kirk and Max Mata. Voting is online via the club’s social media platforms. Voting closes tomorrow, Friday, at 12 noon. Meanwhile, the club’s U-17 women’s Player of the Year is Tubbercurry’s Cara King – a first cousin of Liam Kerrigan.
Cross-country gig yields top performances
The first round of the Connacht Athletics Cross Country League, held at Moyne Community School, Co. Longford, last Saturday, saw top performances from several Sligo competitors.
Aoife Kilgallon (Sligo AC) won the women’s race over 4,000 metres and Eimear O’Brien, also of Sligo AC, was third. The team category was won by Sligo AC, who had four finishers in the top 10 – Aoife Kilgallon (first), Eimear O’Brien (third), Mari Johnston (seventh) and Eimear O’Connor (ninth).
Johnston will be representing Ireland at an upcoming international masters cross-country event.
North Sligo AC were second overall in the team section – their best four finishers were in the top 25, Valeria Petrova (14th), Patricia Lee (17th), Marita McMorrow (18th) and Alison O’Sullivan (24th).
In the men’s race – a 6,000 metres circuit – Desi Foley, Sligo AC, was runner-up behind David Bohan (Galway City Harriers) and Foley’s club-mate, Shane Hayes, was third. The next best Sligo finisher was Aidan McMoreland, North Sligo AC, who took fourth place.
Sligo AC were the team winners thanks to the efforts of the aforementioned Foley and Hayes, as well as Brian Kinsella (fifth) and Martin Brennan (seventh). Second in the team category was North Sligo AC – their best scorers were Aidan McMoreland (fourth), Eamon Murphy (sixth), Peter Gallagher (17th) and Leo Donlon (23rd).
The competition’s second round is scheduled for Sunday, November 6, in Drumshanbo.
Arrow Harps record a win over Bonagee
Arrow Harps defeated Donegal’s Bonagee Celtic 5-2 in last Sunday’s FAI Youth Cup (Boys U-18) regional qualifying fixture which took place at Ballisodare’s astroturf pitch. Niall Kenny netted twice for the winners, with George Barlow, George Collins and Daire Callaghan also on target.
Superb start for Sligo RFC women
The Sligo RFC senior women’s team scored 10 tries in their emphatic start to this season’s Connacht Womens’ League on Sunday last. Sligo thrashed Westport 58-5 at Strandhill’s Hamilton Park thanks to a powerful, decisive display. The Emma Cullen-captained Sligo, who lost to Westport in last season’s Connacht Women’s Plate decider, were 22-0 up at halftime. Full-back Etna Flanagan – a Sligo Ladies Football legend – scored a hat-trick of tries for Sligo. Also scoring tries were Emma Cox (2), Orla Evans (2), Shannah Tiffoney (2) and Sophie Kinghan.
Four of Sligo’s eight tries were converted thanks to Cliodhna O’Sullivan. Sligo, whose head coach is Jamie Bowes, are next in action on Sunday week, November 6, when they host Buccaneers-Corinthians (1pm). SLIGO RFC SENIOR WOMEN (V WESTPORT): Etna Flanagan (3 tries),
Sophie Kinghan (1 try), Emma Cox (2 tries), Hannah Walsh Kerins, Sarah Woodmartin, Cliodhna O’Sullivan, Laura McIntyre, Jenny Cregg, Orla Evans (2 tries), Aisling Feely, Joanne Williams, Michaela Watts, Jacqueline Barrett, Victoria Lee, Emma Cullen (c). Replacements: Rachel Dolan, Shannah Tiffoney (2 tries), Jessica McGuinness.
Devaney and Molloy have a crunch game
Manorhamilton’s Muireann Devaney and Roisin Molloy from Gurteen, both former Sligo Rovers Academy players, are involved in a potential title decider this coming Saturday with Athlone Town in the final round of games in the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League. Athlone, who are third in the table, need to win away against Bohemians (Dalymount Park, 5.20pm), and then hope that holders and leaders Shelbourne are held to a draw away to second-placed Wexford Youths (Ferrycarrig Park, 5.20pm). A win for Athlone – who are also Evoke.ie FAI Women’s Cup finalists – and a stalemate between the top two would put Athlone in a play-off with Shelbourne for the title.
Last Saturday saw Athlone remain in the title race when they won 1-0 at home to Galway WFC – the game’s only goal was scored by Muireann Devaney in the 24th minute. Athlone’s game this Saturday is being livestreamed on LOITV, with the clash of Wexford Youths and Shelbourne live on TG4. Rovers complete their schedule with a home game against DLR Waves (The Showgrounds, 3pm). This is available to watch live on LOITV.
Meanwhile, Muireann Devaney was named in midfield on the SSE Airtricity Women’s National League Team of the Week for series 26 (last weekend’s games).
Good results for two Girls U-18 rugby teams
Sligo RFC’s two Girls U-18 teams were both in action last weekend – and both won.
Last Friday night, under lights at Hamilton Park, Sligo Yellow were 14-12 winners over Creggs White in a Connacht Girls U-18 League Division One fixture.
There was a try each from Sarah Maye and Cria Flanagan, whose mother, Etna, plays for the club’s senior women’s team. Ciara Kerrigan landed two conversions. Sligo led 14-0 at one stage and held on despite the concession of two unconverted tries later in the second-half.
The club’s second team in this age group – Sligo Black – played last Sunday – this was an exciting 42-33 away defeat of Ballinrobe in a Connacht Girls U-18 League Division Two encounter. In a game that produced 11 tries, Sligo scored six five-pointers – winger Saoirse Lawley scored four tries. Sligo recovered from falling 10-0 behind and the went in front before half-time.
Schmidtmeier runs well for Rathcormac NS
Ciara Schmidtmeier, Rathcormac NS, was the bestplaced Sligo competitor at last Saturday’s Connacht Primary Schools Cross Country Championships.
In an event held at Moyne Community School, Co. Longford, and organised by Connacht Athletics, Schmidtmeier was third in the Girls Third & Fourth Class race (a distance of 1,000 metres).
Grace Foley, Scoil Ursula, was placed fifth and helped the Sligo town school finish sixth in the team standings – her teammates were Annalise Higgins (20th), Ella McGoldrick (59th) and Amelia Lynch (94th).
The Boys Third & Fourth Class race, also over 1,000 metres, saw a fifth-placed finish for Moss Deasey and runners-up spot in the team section for Deasey’s school, Strandhill NS. Led by Deasey, Strandhill’s other finishers were Jay Gethins (22nd), Timmy Brennan (38th) and Rory Slattery (54th).
Laura Hunter was the fastest of the Sligo runners in the Girls Fifth & Sixth Class event (1200 metres).
Hunter, representing Scoil Náisiúnta Réalt na Mara, Rosses Point, was sixth. Her performance helped the
Rosses Point outfit to sixth place in the team category – her teammates included Grace Newell (52nd), Saoirse Foley (59th) and Poppy McKenna (85th).
In the Boys Fifth & Sixth Class race (1200 metres), the first Sligo finisher was Oscar Rene Mac Con Rua, who was running for Gaelscoil Chnoc na Ré, Ballydoogan. Rathcormac NS were placed eighth in this race’s team section. Their finishers were as follows: Marc Percy (49th), Ross O’Callaghan (50th), Sean O’Dowd (78th) and Jamie McMorrow (89th).