SPORT ROUND-UP
French joins Rovers as an S&C coach
Tom French is the new lead strength and conditioning coach at Sligo Rovers FC. French, a high performance coach for over 20 years, is a highly-qualified S&C coach and also holds a UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence.
He was manager of Mervue United when they played in the League of Ireland First Division and he was also assistant manager at Galway United. The Galway native also worked with the Galway hurling teams that reached two GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship finals. Rovers boss John Russell welcomed the full-time appointment of French. “I’m delighted to get Tom on board. He has worked with various sports teams over the years – he is a great guy and will lead the programme for strength and conditioning.”
Russell, speaking to sligorovers.com, added: “Tom will monitor the training loads, in particular, to help keep the players fit and fresh – he will be a big addition to our backroom team.”
Sligo champs’ conquerors claim a title
St Brigid’s, the team that defeated Sligo champions Coolera-Strandhill in the AIB Connacht GAA Club Senior Football Championship quarter-final on November 12, were crowned provincial champions last Sunday.
The Roscommon club overcame Galway’s Corofin by five points, 1-13 to 2-5, at Dr Hyde Park.
Ben O’Carroll, the scorer of 0-6 in last month’s seven-point defeat of Coolera-Strandhill, who failed to score in the first-half of that quarter-final, bagged 1-7 against Corofin. This is a fifth provincial title for St Brigid’s and their first since 2012.
Corofin are managed by Gurteen native and ex-Eastern Harps player Kevin Johnson, who, during his one year in charge of Tourlestrane, guided the south Sligo club to Owen B Hunt Cup success in 2021.
Walsh doesn’t feature for ROI at U-19 level
Sligo Rovers first team goalkeeper Conor Walsh, a Westport native, was an unused substitute for the Republic of Ireland men’s U-19 squad for their recent UEFA European U-19 Championship qualifiers in Albania. The Republic of Ireland defeated Albania 3-1, drew 0-0 with Slovenia and lost 1-0 to Belgium – meaning a third-place finish in Group 13 – missing out on the championships by one point. Andrew Wogan of Drogheda United, the squad’s other custodian selected by head coach Tom Mohan, started all three games.
Home loss for All-Stars in the Super League
EJ Sligo All-Stars endured a fifth loss in this season’s Basketball Ireland InsureMyVan. ie Men’s Super League – from seven games – when they were beaten 105-85 by Griffith College Éanna at the Mercy College gym last Saturday night. This was the team’s final home game of 2023, with two away games to come this month prior to the festive break.
The Shane O’Meara-coached EJ Sligo All-Stars travel to Killorglin, Co. Kerry, this Saturday for a clash with Flexachem KCYMS (Killorglin Sports Complex, tip-off 7.15pm). Flexachem KCYMS
SHANE’S SILVERWARE: St Molaise Gaels player Shane Towey helped Maynooth University win the GAA Higher Education Intermediate Football League title last Wednesday night. Maynooth University defeated DCU Dóchas Éireann, winning 2-12 to 0-11 at DCU’s facilities. Towey, is pictured with team-mate Ben Fitzsimons from Kildare.
Action from the ‘StartBox’ programme for young girls and young female teenagers. The programme has been organised locally by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership in conjunction with the IABA. are doing marginally better in the Men’s Super League – three wins and five defeats from eight games – and they also failed to get beyond the first round of the Pat Duffy Men’s National Cup. Meanwhile, Garvey’s Tralee Warriors, the team that beat EJ Sligo All-Stars in the Pat Duffy Men’s National Cup first round on November 4, have progressed to the competition’s semi-final following last Saturday’s quarter-final defeat of Bright St Vincent’s, 87-84. Also through to the last four are Irish Guide Dogs Ballincollig@MTU, Energywise Ireland Neptune and UCC Demons.
Sligo ARAs compete at bowling event
Members of Active Retirement Associations (ARAs), including those from Sligo, competed at last week’s Active Retirement Ireland National Indoor Mats Bowling Competition, a three-day tournament that was held at the Gleneagle INEC Arena in Killarney, Co. Kerry.
There are 494 Active Retirement Associations in local communities across Ireland, catering for groups of older people to come together to organise social events and activities to reduce isolation and lonliness.
These ARAs are supported by the national body Active Retirement Ireland, the largest membership organisation for older people in the country.
Golf clubs are encouraged to submit entries
Golf clubs in Sligo, including Enniscrone, Strandhill, Tubbercurry, County Sligo and Castle Dargan, are reminded that entries are now being accepted for next year’s 2024 inter-club competitions at All-Ireland and regional level. Golf Ireland have 12 All-Ireland inter-club competitions (five for men, five for women and two mixed), in additional to a comprehensive series of regional events which include competitions for a wider range of handicaps. Clubs are encouraged to familiarise themselves with updates to various competitions – an information pack is available online at golfireland.ie. The closing date for entries in Golf Ireland’s inter-club competitions is Friday, January 19, 2024. The organisers hope to have competition draws available by mid-February of next year. Sligo’s only All-Ireland inter-club success this year was that of Tubbercurry, who won the AIG Jimmy Bruen Shield in September.
Rovers merch available at The Showgrounds
Sligo Rovers’ merchandise – ideal Christmas gifts for Bit O’Red fans – is now available at the club’s ‘megastore’ in The Showgrounds. The outlet will be open from Monday to Saturday, 9.30am to 5pm. Among the items available is training gear for 2024 as well as season ticket applications.
SLDSL extends condolences to McGlynn family
The Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League (SLDSL) has extended sympathy to Kevin McGlynn, General Manager, Sligo Southern Hotel, following the passing of his dad, Kevin J McGlynn, in Donegal. Kevin McGlynn and the Sligo Southern Hotel have been longtime supporters of the SLDSL and are the current sponsors of the Super League. “Condolences to Kevin, his wife Catherine, their family and extended family members,” said a statement issued by the SLDSL.
Kevin J McGlynn, a native of Falcarragh, worked for Letterkenny ESB. He died on Saturday last. His funeral took place on Tuesday.
Ex-Bit O’Red duo get new roles for 2024
Two former Sligo Rovers players, Tim Clancy and Eoin Wearen, have been given managerial roles in the SSE Airtricity League of Ireland. Clancy, 39, the former manager of St Patrick’s Athletic and Drogheda United, is the new senior men’s team boss at Cork City, who are back in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First
Division for 2024. Meath native Clancy, a defender during his playing days, featured for Rovers between July of 2015 and June of 2016. The Leesiders have parted company with ex-Rovers boss Liam Buckley, who was the club’s Sporting Director and also interim boss this year.
Eoin Wearen is the new manager of Shelbourne’s senior women’s team. The 31-year-old was signed for the Bit O’Red for the 2015 season – by then manager Owen Heary – but he returned to Bohemians in July of that year following Heary’s departure. Shelbourne finished runners-up in this season’s SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
Big games for refs Chapman and Judge
Two of Sligo’s leading GAA referees, Barry Judge and Gus Chapman, took charge of big games last weekend. Castleconnor’s Judge was in charge for Sunday’s AIB Connacht GAA Senior Football Championship final between St Brigid’s (Roscommon) and Corofin (Galway) at Dr Hyde Park, Roscommon. St Brigid’s won this game, 1-13 to 2-5. Wexford native Chapman, who is based in Riverstown, officiated the currentaccount. ie LGFA All-Ireland Intermediate Club Championship semi-final on Saturday between Ballinamore Seán O’Heslins (Leitrim) and Steelstown Brian Ógs (Derry).
This was a two-point win for