Gaels hold an awards night in McDermotts
competitor). Heather, who was ninth overall, posted a time of 39:14. The Drumshanbo event also had a half-marathon – the leading Sligo finisher was
Sligo AC’s Brian Kinsella, who was fifth on 1:20:32 – and a 5km. Enda McGowan, also of Sligo AC, was the first Sligo runner to complete the 5k – his time was 19:18 for sixth place.
Road race in Tubbercurry this Sunday
This Sunday sees the annual St Patrick’s Day 10k road race in Tubbercurry. Starting at 12 noon, the event also had a 5k route. The 10k is the first race in the Sligo County Running League. T-shirts are available to the first adult entries submitted online (for either the 10k or 5k). The event organisers are South Sligo AC.
Spring League final at Castle Dargan GC
On Bank Holiday Monday next, March 18, Castle Dargan Golf Club’s Spring League final takes place (shotgun start, 9.30am). Because points are allocated to league position there is all to play for.
This season’s Spring League is sponsored by Calor Gas.
Meanwhile, the Darren Clarke Cup open qualifier, sponsored by New Smile Dental Clinic (Sligo), is schedule for the end of this month (March 29-31) at Castle Dargan. Those who qualify will then take part in matchplay knockout format in the coming months. The entry fee for this competition is €30 – book tee times online (using BRS) or call the golf shop.
Local teenagers play for the ROI schools team
Sligo secondary schools students Kyle McDonagh (St Attracta’s Community School) and Daire Patton (Summerhill College) were again in action for the FAI Schools Republic of Ireland Boys U-18s in this year’s SAFIB Centenary Shield. The teenagers started last Thursday’s clash with Northern Ireland at Athlone Town Stadium, a 2-1 loss, with Tubbercurry’s Kyle McDonagh taken off after 58 minutes due to a head injury.
The next fixture for the FAI Schools Republic of Ireland Boys U-18 team is an away fixture against England on Friday, April 5 (Walsall FC, 7pm). They are away to Wales on Thursday, April 18.
Shamrock Gaels GAA
Club held an awards night at McDermotts, Castlebaldwin, last Saturday night. The senior men’s squad that won the Furey’s Coaches Senior Football League Division One title last year, which was a first for the club since the 1980s, were presented with their medals by Noel Gallagher (Sligo GAA vice chairperson).
The following players were honoured on the night for their endeavours in 2023: Ciaran Kenny (Senior Player of the Year), Aaron McKenna (Intermediate Player of the Year), Niall Henry (Junior Player of the Year), Louise Merrick (Ladies Footballer of the Year). Sharon Merrick accepted the award on behalf of Louise. Former club chairperson Seamus Cawley was inducted into Shamrock Gaels’ Hall of Fame.
Connacht final took place in Enniscrone
The recent FAI Schools Dr Tony O’Neill Senior (U-19) Boys Connacht Cup final was hosted by Kilglass-Enniscrone United at Michael McGowan Park, Enniscrone. Two Mayo secondary schools, St Gerald’s College (Castlebar) and St Muredach’s College (Ballina), were the finalists. St Gerald’s won 1-0 at the west Sligo venue’s all-weather pitch.
Handballers win doubles U-21 title
Sligo handballers Cormac Finn and Donal Mitchell (Ballymote Handball Club) won the Men’s U-21 Doubles title last Sunday – this was part of the
SWIM GROUP: The County Sligo Swimming Club contingent that took part in the recent Swim Ireland Aspiring Champions Series that took place at the University of Limerick pool.
GAA Handball 4-Wall Men’s and Ladies Doubles (40x20) All-Ireland Championship. The Sligo duo won two games to nil (21-17, 21-14) against the Kilkenny pairing of Sean Barron and John Doheny.
In the Men’s Silvers Masters ‘B’ Doubles decider, which was played last Saturday,
Sligo finalists Josian Oskoz and Clive Slevin, representing Drumcliffe Handball Club, were beaten by Kilkenny’s Brendan Hosey and Daniel Love (21-7, 21-9). Last Sunday saw Castleconnor Handball Club players Calvin Foody and Rory McHale win a provincial ‘A’ title in Galway in a Boys U-12 Doubles category. They defeated a pairing from Bofield Handball Club (Mayo) (15-12, 15-2) in the final after overcoming two Sligo players, Bobby Cavanagh and Eoghan Connor (Collooney Handball Club), in an all-Sligo semi-final.
Sligo Ladies face must-win game in NFL
The Sligo Ladies Footballers are back in action this Sunday but games are running out for them to avoid relegation from Division Three of the Lidl Ladies National Football League. The Cormac Reape-managed Sligo are away to Wexford (St Patrick’s Park, Enniscorthy, 12 noon) in a must-win round six game. Sligo, who are winless after five games, are currently bottom of the Division Three standings. Their only point from a possible 15 is the one gained from a round one draw away to Offaly on January 21. Sligo’s final game is a home fixture against Louth on Sunday week, March 24. The bottom two teams in Division Three will make the drop to Division Four for 2025.
Meanwhile, the Sligo LGFA U-16 team were
1-10 to 1-7 winners over Galway last Saturday in a Connacht LGFA U-16 Championship fixture played in Clonberne. Sligo had a ‘bye’ in round one.
Masters win swim medals at UL meet
County Sligo Swimming Club members won medals at the recent Swim Ireland Irish Open Long Course Masters Championships which took place earlier this month (Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2) at the University of Limerick’s 50-metre pool. The host club were Limerick Masters Swim Club. Accompanying the County Sligo Swimming Club (CSSC) masters contingent was the club’s head coach PJ Langton. Among the medal winners from CSSC were Cassie McVeigh, Phil Newell, Aoife Conway, Elaina Sugrue, Olivia Scanlon, Tim Doran, David Bartley, Enda Eames and Shane O’Doherty.
Second XV earn place in Junior Plate decider
Sligo Rugby Club’s second XV have qualified for the Bank of Ireland Connacht Junior Plate final. On Sunday last they were 23-17 semi-final winners over Monivea at Hamilton Park, a game in which the hosts scored three tries. Sligo will take on Tuam at Dexcom Stadium on Sunday week, March 24, in the Plate decider.
Also last Sunday there was a Pool ‘C’ game for Sligo in the Connacht Boys U-18.5
Cup. Sligo, although depleted, won 49-12 away to Loughrea, scoring nine tries. Because of Sligo Grammar School’s Bank of Ireland Connacht Schools Senior ‘A’ Cup final yesterday (Wednesday) evening against Athlone’s Marist College, Sligo only had 16 players for the trip to Loughrea. Ronan O’Connor scored three tries, with tries also coming from Eamon Keane (2), team captain Tom Walsh, Kealan Shoen, Kieran Roper and Joris Rooney. Sligo have a home semi-final coming up on Easter Sunday, March 31.
Sligo Rugby Club Boys U-18.5 squad (v Loughrea): Evan O’Beirne, Max O’Hehir, James Gilmartin, Cathal Lang, Aodhan Shovelin, Adam O’Carroll, Jack McDaniel,
Tom Walsh, Joris Rooney, Ronan O’Connor, Carlos Fernandez, Kealan Shoen, Eamon Kean, Kieran Roper, Ben O’Hehir, Brendan Hayes.
Ryan Feehily in action for Sligo Rugby Club during last Saturday’s Connacht Senior Cup final.
Rovers sisters lose out in FAI Schools clash
The Loughrey sisters, Jodie and Keri, who are both members of the Sligo Rovers senior women’s squad, were on the losing side in the FAI Schools Senior Girls National Cup final.
On Wednesday, March 6, defending champions Scoil Mhuire (Buncrana) lost 1-0 to Presentation Secondary School Thurles in a final that went to extra-time at the facilities of Rock Celtic FC in Dundalk. Keri Loughrey captained the Scoil Mhuire side – the Buncrana secondary school defeated St Attracta’s Community School on penalties in last year’s Senior Girls final.
Markievicz is the setting for Senior ‘D’ final
Sligo town’s Markievicz Park – Sligo GAA’s flagship ground – was the setting for the GAA All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior ‘D’ Football Championship final between Donegal’s Scoil Mhuire Buncrana and Gallen Community School (Offaly) last Saturday. Gallen CS won by a point, 0-9 to 1-5, with the winning score coming from a converted free in second-half stoppage time.
Runner Keelan is selected on the Irish team
Dromore West’s Keelan Kilrehill has been chosen on the Athletics Ireland team for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships that take place in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday, March 30.
Kilrehill, 23, who is a member of Ballina’s Moy Valley AC, will compete in the senior men’s race (a 10,000 metres test).
The west Sligo man is coached by another Dromore West native, Emmett Dunleavy, who also coaches another member of the Irish team for Serbia, Danielle Donegan of Tullamore Harriers.
A total of eight athletes have been selected by Athletics Ireland for the World Cross Country Championships, with Ireland having two runners in each of the four categories. The full team is as follows: Anna Gardiner (East Down AC, under-20 women); Kirsty Maher (Moy Valley AC, under20 women); Harry Colbert (Waterford FC, under-20 men); Seamus Robinson (City of Derry Spartans AC, under-20 men); Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC, senior women); Fiona Everard (Bandon AC, senior women); Hugh Armstrong (Ballina AC, senior men); Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC, senior men).