Energia All-Ireland League Sligo face UL Bohs

HERE we go again as the Energia All-Ireland League play-offs beckon for Sligo Rugby Club’s senior men’s team.

It has already proved a remarkable season for Sligo Rugby’s senior men’s team, winners of the provincial double – Connacht Senior League and Connacht Senior Cup.

Last month’s Connacht Senior Cup triumph, a wonderful 34-12 defeat of Athlone’s Buccaneers (of Division 1B) at Hamilton Park, is arguably the campaign’s highlight.

But that achievement could be surpassed if Sligo can secure promotion to Division 2A. This Saturday sees them away to UL Bohemians in the promotion/relegation semi-final (Annacotty, 2.30pm).

UL Bohs overcame Sligo in last season’s play-off at their Limerick base, winning 16-14 in a game that Sligo could – and should – have won.

This year UL Bohs ended up second from bottom in Division 2A, a similar finish to last season, and they welcome Sligo with an underwhelming record of six wins, one draw and 11 losses.

Last season they were even worse statistically, with just four wins, but still dug deep enough to survive against Sligo and they then overcame Dungannon in the promotion/

SLIGO’S AIL PLAY-OFFS

2016: Finished second from bottom in Division 2C. Defeated Enniscorthy by two points, 24-22, in the promotion/ relegation semi-final.

2017: Finished second in the Division 2C standings. Beaten by Rainey, 30-21, in the promotion/relegation semi-final.

2018: Topped Division 2C and secured promotion.

2019: Qualified for the play-offs with a fourth place finish in Division 2B.

Lost to Blackrock College, 28-27, in the promotion/relegation semi-final.

2023: Reached the play-offs but lost to Limerick’s UL Bohs, 16-14, in the promotion/relegation semi-final.

2024: Qualified for the playoffs and a second successive clash with UL Bohs at Annacotty.

The number of points that Sligo by in last season’s AIl-Ireland League play-off against UL Bohs.

relegation final.

The accepted notion is that the teams at the lower end of Division 2A are in and around the level of those that finish in the top four of Division 2B.

This is so often the case. Still, when it comes to the crunch, teams from the higher tier, however much they’ve struggled during the regular season, have that extra bit of class when it matters.

Sligo have found, too, that bad luck, the bounce of a ball or a referee’s call can go against them in the play-offs – not alone should they have beaten UL Bohs last year, there was also that close encounter with Blackrock College in 2019.

Certainly Sligo have the on-field ability and the off-field structures to go up a level in the Energia AllIreland League but before they can even contemplate such a transformation in status, UL Bohs have to be overcome and then either Galway Corinthians or Wanderers who meet in Saturday’s other promotion/relegation semi-final.

Both Corinthians (second) and Wanderers (third) finished ahead of Sligo in the Division 2B standings, with Belfast’s Instonians overpowering all before them except for Sligo at Hamilton Park on March 2.

That 25-24 defeat of the Division 2B leaders revealed Sligo’s capacity for great things as well as a depth of resolve, with them winning the Connacht Senior Cup on home soil a week later.

That impressive defeat of Instonians was also one of six consecutive victories for Sligo in this season’s Energia All-Ireland, a run of form that secured them a top-four place and therefore a shot at promotion.

Sligo will be cheered on by their loyal fans on Saturday, with the ‘magic bus’ bringing supporters to Annacotty. The recently-passed Joe Coulter will be there in spirit, surely.