SPORT ROUND-UP Midfield ace Bolger is back with Cork City
All-Ireland final for conquerors of Sea Blues
Cork club St Catherine’s, who defeated Easkey by a point in the recent AIB GAA Hurling All-Ireland Junior Club Championship semi-final, will play Kilkenny’s Tullogher Rosbercon in the All-Ireland decider at Croke Park on Saturday week, January 13. This game starts at 5pm and will be shown live on TG4.
Meanwhile, Mayo side Lahardane MacHales, who beat Owenmore Gaels in last month’s AIB Connacht GAA Club Junior Football Championship final at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, have an All-Ireland semi-final against Listowel Emmets (Kerry) at Glenisk O’Connor Park this Saturday. Action at the Tullamore venue gets under way at 1pm and it is live on the Spórt TG4 YouTube channel.
Curry GAA pick Jennings as new boss
Curry GAA Club have appointed ex-Mayo player Jarlath Jennings as their new senior men’s team manager for 2024. Jennings, who played his club football with Hollymount-Carramore, takes over from Bunninadden’s John O’Flaherty.
According to a statement from the club on social media, Jennings was appointed following “extensive interviews” to source a new manager.
Jennings has been in charge of several clubs, among them Mayo sides Ardnaree, Shrule-Glencorrib and Ballyhaunis plus Galway’s Milltown. He guided Milltown to this year’s Galway GAA Senior Football Championship semi-final – a first since 2014 – and they lost to eventual champions Corofin, who were managed by Gurteen’s Kevin Johnson.
Curry were in the last two relegation finals of the Homeland Senior Football Championship, winning both to ensure top flight survival. The south Sligo club last won the Owen B Hunt Cup in 2012.
Meanwhile, Curry GAA Club held a fundraising tractor run on St Stephen’s Day, Tuesday, December 26, in aid on North West STOP, a suicide prevention charity.
Former Rovers player turns to Aussie Rules
Ex-Sligo Rovers senior women’s player Amy Boyle-Carr has joined the Australian Football League Women’s season as a rookie with Adelaide Crows in Adelaide, south Australia. Boyle-Carr, who studied at ATU Sligo, played for Rovers in the second-half of the 2022 season, coming to The Showgrounds in July of that year for the remainder of the SSE Airtricity Women’s Premier Division.
A former Republic of Ireland senior women’s team international, she made her debut as a 17-year-old. She played for Sion Swifts in the NIFL Women’s Premiership.
An outstanding Ladies Footballer, Glenties player BoyleCarr won three Ulster titles with Donegal.
Ex-Bit O’Red forward joins Fleetwood
Former Sligo Rovers striker Ronan Coughlan has joined Fleetwood Town in the EFL League One. Coughlan, 27, spent two seasons at The Showgrounds (2019-2020) and scored 17 goals in all competitions for the Bit O’Red.
Last year he bagged an astonishing 37 goals in 35
WELL DONE: At the Sligo Mugendo Kickboxing Club awards for 2023 club member Eamon Tighe, was presented with an award by the club’s head coach Michael McDermott. This award marked Eamon’s success as a senior boxer last year when he won a national title. games for Waterford FC, who won promotion to the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division for 2024. Munster outfit Waterford FC are a sister club of Coughlan’s new destination, Fleetwood Town.
Limerick native Coughlan has also played in the League of Ireland for Bray Wanderers, Cork City and St Patrick’s Athletic.
500 Club winners for three months
Sligo Rovers Football
Club have announced the 500 Club draw winners for the months of October, November and December (2023).
There are 10 monthy winners in this fundraiser, with one lucky 500 Club member winning €500 and then nine winners of €100 each. The winners are detailed below. OCTOBER: €500, Michael Cawley, Castletown, Waterford); €100, Eddie Gray, Cartron Heights, Sligo; €100, Blaine Gaffney, Summerhill Village, Sligo; €100, Michael Morahan, Leitrim Village, Co. Leitrim; €100, Geoffrey Rose, Bennettsbridge, Co. Kilkenny; €100, David Cummins, Hazelwood Avenue, Co. Sligo; €100, Marcel Gordon, Knocknahur, Co. Sligo; €100, Dermot O’Hara, Fivemilebourne, Co. Sligo; €100, Mark Dunne, Charles Street, Sligo; €100, Bryan Armstrong, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo.
Barlow gets an award from the Bit O’Red
Sligo’s Kailin Barlow has been chosen by Sligo Rovers Football Club at the Young Player of the Year for the senior men’s team following his exploits in 2023. The attacking midfielder, who turns 21 next
June, scored two goals in last year’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division. Barlow started out with Sligo town’s Merville United prior to joining the Rovers academy – he signed his first professional contract with Rovers in November of 2021.
Kickboxing club presents annual awards
Sligo Mugendo Kickboxing Club recently held its club awards for 2023. Uzair Samad was chosen as the Clubman of the Year. Awards were presented to Sadie Harkin (most pleasant and respectful), Mijo Markovic (most improvement), Julian Long (most positive attitude), Giuseppe Gilroy (most hardworking) and Evan McNulty (best potential for 2024). There was also a presentation made to club member Eamon Tighe on his success as a boxer representing Ballinacarrow Boxing Club at last year’s IABA National Senior Championships – he won the men’s 92kg category. Tighe defeated Eamon Gilligan (Docklands) at the National Boxing Stadium, Dublin. Nora Walsh, who has excelled with Sligo Mugendo Kickboxing Club at Junior level, was also given an award as was Niall McDermott to mark his international success. Presenting the awards was the club’s head coach and founder Michael McDermott.
Sligo interest in Senior Cup semi-final
Sligo Rugby Club will be keeping a close eye on this Saturday’s Bank of Ireland Connacht Senior Cup semi-final between Athlone’s Buccaneers and Galway Corinthians at Dubarry Park, Athlone (2.30pm start). The winners will play Sligo Rugby Club’s senior men’s team in the decider which is scheduled for Sunday, March 17 (St Patrick’s Day) at The Sportsground, Galway (4pm). Sligo automatically qualified for the Senior Cup final as a result of winning the Connacht Senior League earlier this season.
Meanwhile, Sligo return to Energia All-Ireland League Division 2B action on Saturday week, January 13, with an away fixture (round 10) against Galway Corinthians (Corinthian Park, 2.30pm). Sligo’s most recent AIL game was a 15-11 loss to Galway Corinthians at Hamilton Park on December 16.
Midfielder Greg Bolger, who impressed for Sligo Rovers over three seasons, 2021-23, has joined Cork City who are back in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division.