Tipp elation turns to Antrim woe
THERE is no point in me starting this column with the hackneyed sentiment of I’m very disappointed with the result against Antrim. To be truthful, it’s bigger than a disappointment. I know we can talk about the missed frees, the way the wind changed in the second half and so on but that doesn’t matter.
Who do we blame? Well, it has to be management or maybe our freetakers or maybe the vagaries of the weather. The fact of the matter is that we as management and players are always in the firing line and whether we like it or not, in this business we are always only 10 minutes away from a kick in the arse. In fairness, the slaps in the back are in this bracket also.
In essence it’s not just losing two league points, it’s much more for the people involved on the cold face of inter- county football. You see when you and your family sacrifice so much for the cause and results go against you, it effects the mood in your home, at work and everywhere.
When I came home from the Tipp game, the vibe in our house was super and there was a really good feel about everything in life.
Fast- forward two weeks and you have the exact opposite . Believe me when I say this, that this will be the theme in the majority of houses in Sligo involving players, management and anyone connected closely to the team this week.
There is no doubt that our supporters, who travelled in good numbers, will be feeling the same and wondering why we do it.
We do it because when you win you can’t beat that feeling of accomplishment and that the many hours away from family and friends is justified. When you lose you look at everything on and off the pitch and sometimes you will question yourself and ask yourself “Is it worth it?”
Of course it’s worth it because as I said, you can’t buy that feeling when you do win. That’s why when you lose it’s such a blow and for a time your mental health can suffer and that’s where we as a group and you as supporters need to take stock and focus on the next game, against Laois next Sunday in Sligo.
Talking of supporters, I noticed John Clifford and his family walking out of Corrigan Park afterwards and to be honest, I felt a little guilty because I know this county was in turmoil financially but with hard work from the likes of John and many others, and spearheaded by our county treasurer Peter Greene, they have certainly turned things around.
Everyone involved should take a bow in having such a top- class centre of excellence up and running in Scarden. Many other counties don’t have such a facility. The professionalism of the admin and coaching staff in their offices is second to none.
It’s no secret that the Croke Park finance committee highlights Sligo‘ s Centre of Excellence as the perfect model and has recommended Scarden as the go- to place before others even start their developments. A deputation from Armagh visited Scarden on the morning of the NFL game on 5th February and by all accounts were very impressed, and rightly so.
As a manager, the benefits of such a training facility with the gym, excellent pitches and other facilities means that programmes are easier maintained, leading to less injuries for players and players being produced to a higher standard.
From speaking with other underage managers and coaches in Sligo, every young lad playing GAA in the county wants to be part of a development squad. Sligo colleges are competing at the highest level, as evidenced by Summerhill’s senior win last year and St Attracta’s being in both junior and senior finals last week.
Now is the time that the GAA in Sligo needs your help. Everyone has a part to play. Start believing in the dream. With the facilities now available at Scarden, every young lad in the county must believe that if they put in the work they can realise that dream.
Club Sligo is the vehicle that made this facility happen. I know clubs are struggling to raise finances but there are still plenty of supporters out there that can help both club and county. In conversation, we should all encourage people to join Club Sligo. It is available through the local clubs, the office in Scarden or on the Sligo GAA website.
While everyone else is trying to make my job easier with top class facilities, we all know that this is a massive game for Sligo against Laois next Sunday in the county grounds and it’s our job to keep you believing that we can go to the next level.