Chairman David says a collective effort is driving exciting journey
IT WILL probably take an exceptional performance for Tourlestrane to achieve something extraordinary. Then again, just a winning performance will suffice if they are to adorn their seven successive Sligo titles with provincial success at Pearse Stadium. Strange as it seems, Tourlestrane are rightly dubbed as underdogs for Sunday’s meeting with Moycullen, the new kids on a Galway block that classy Corofin blitzed with a seven-in-a-row (2013-19).
THIS IS Tourlestrane’s time. An era of unprecedented success; seven consecutive Sligo Senior Football Championships and, this coming Sunday, the opportunity for the progressive club to go one step further by winning an AIB Connacht GAA Club Senior Football Championship crown.
Club chairman David Bailey, especially busy during the hectic week of Tourlestrane’s final preparations for their showdown with Moycullen, appreciates how fortunate they are to have a provincial final to look forward to.
He mentions how Tourlestrane GAA Club has previously savoured big days.
Tourlestrane’s Ladies Footballers contested an All-Ireland final four years ago – losing to Glanmire of Cork in the LGFA All-Ireland Junior Club Championship decider – and the south Sligo club’s teenage Gaelic footballers won the Connacht GAA Club Minor ‘B’ Football Championship title in 2016, overcoming St Ciaran’s (Roscommon) after extra-time. He stated: “Since we beat St Mary’s Kiltoghert [in the Connacht semi-fi- nal] we’ve tried to keep things lowkey and prepare as normal for the next game.
“This is the third big occasion for the club in the last six years – these are great occasions to be getting ready for. There is a great buzz around the place.”
Bailey is originally from Tubbercurry and he played for Tourlestrane’s neighbours.
When he and his wife returned to Ireland from Manchester in 2000, they moved to Tourlestrane. His love for
The first Sligo club to feature in an AIB Connacht GAA Club Senior Football Championship decider since Eastern Harps in 2008, Tourlestrane are one of just four Sligo clubs to reached this stage – the others being Curry (2003) and six-time finalists St Mary’s (1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983 and 1984).
St Mary’s were provincial champions three times (1977, 1980 and 1983) and remain Sligo GAA’s sole winner. With Connacht’s spoils having gone
WINNING DAYS: Tourlestrane GAA Club chairman David Bailey, during a successful county final occasion for the club. RIGHT: Bailey reacts to Tourlestrane’s equalising point, which forced extra-time, in last month county final against St Mary’s at Markievicz Park.
GAA got him involved with the club that he has been a part of now for 16 years.
His son, Rian, is part of the present senior Gaelic football panel.
“It is great to see Rian there but I don’t get involved in anything to do with team matters – that is all left up to [manager] Fergal O’Donnell and his management team.
“The younger lads coming through can’t wait to be part of the senior panel. We’ve filtered through a
number of players from that good minor team of six years ago.” He continued: “We’ve been lucky with the managements teams in recent years – firstly with Eamonn O’Hara and Gerry McGowan, then Kevin Johnson and now Fergal O’Donnell. Bailey stressed that the club’s executive committee and members do so much Trojan work, a lot of it unheralded and behind the scenes.
“There is a lot of work involved in running the club – turning up for matchday is probably one of the easier things. We have to make sure the lads are looked after in terms of physios for example.” He praised the input of Kevin Harrington (vice-chairman), Teresa Walsh (treasurer), Elizabeth Henry (secretary), Maureen Walsh (Ladies Football secretary) and Jacqueline Kennedy (PRO).
Bailey also hailed the generous support of the club’s main sponsors, Celtic Sheet Metal, a New York-based company that was started by two brothers from Tourlestrane, Brendan and Michael Cunney.
“I think we have them on board as main sponsors for the last seven years. It has been a great lift to the club to have them.
“They have done well for themselves in America but they haven’t forgotten their roots.”
Meanwhile, the club is planning to upgrade their facilities. They are in the process of obtaining land – adjacent to their grounds – where a second pitch will be installed. The club’s dressing-rooms will also be revamped. Bailey, a tireless clubman, continued: “Gaelic football, Ladies Football and hurling – it is like a religion for the people of Tourlestrane.
“First and foremost, it is the players themselves who drive it on, as well as the club and community.
“It is a collective effort here at Tourlestrane – seven titles in a row may not happen again in my lifetime. “If we were to win a Connacht title this Sunday, it would be like winning an All-Ireland!