Sligo-Leitrim prepare for Oscar Traynor semi-final
GIVEN the array of talented players to have represented the Sligo-Leitrim and District Soccer League over the years it is a mystery that the SLDSL has only one FAI Oscar Traynor Inter-League Cup success in its history – that brilliant triumph of the mid-1980s.
This Sunday Sligo-Leitrim are in the competition’s semi-final – they take on Mayo at Athlone Town Stadium, kick-off 4pm – and this is a chance to at least reach a national final and then aim for silverware.
Sligo-Leitrim have played
Mayo before – in this season’s Connacht section – and manager John Loftus believes that last October’s result, a 1-0 win for Mayo at Milebush courtesy of a controversial penalty, will have little bearing on what could happen this weekend.
Sunday’s game is a clean slate for both sides.
Loftus stated: “This is a huge game for us and it’s a great opportunity for both teams to make an All-Ireland final – this doesn’t happen too often [for Sligo-Leitrim].
“This is a different scenario from the last time we played Mayo. It is at a neutral venue for starters and I would like to think that we are in better side than when we met them before in the group. At that stage our season had just started. It wasn’t a great game and it had 0-0 written all over it.
“We wouldn’t fear playing them again to be honest.”
Loftus and his management team of Lee Marshall and
Adrian Burke have refreshed the squad. With a group of around 25 players training regularly there is competition for places because only 18 players can be named in the matchday squad.
“This is probably one of the most diverse squads that we’ve put together. For example Keith
Nibbs is 40 and Eoin Stinchon, one of the younger players called up, is still a student at Summerhill College. Others like Gary Farren and Bryan Lynch have freshened things up.
“We try to pick who we consider to be the best players – whatever their club is. There is more of a spread of talent throughout the league now.”
In an ideal world Loftus can select any combination from the overall group for the game coming up and expect a positive result. With different players unavailable at different times this has been the case as SligoLeitrim won games against Roscommon, Galway and Wexford (quarter-final).
Conor Griffin (Calry Bohs) could be back in contention but Rian Gorman (Carbury
FC) is unlikely to feature as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury. Stephen Keenan is also doubtful due to a hamstring issue.
Loftus added: “For that game against Wexford we were missing a number of players, the likes of Jordan Harte and Mark McGoldrick, so we ended up bringing in Luke Flynn and Cian Kilcoyne. As things turned out, Luke set up the winning goal and it was Cian who scored it.
“We have a good group there – all the lads have bought into it this year – and hopefully it will go our way against Mayo on Sunday.”