Mayo legend Kilgallon holds out hope for his second county at MacHale Park
MAYO football legend TJ Kilgallon says his home county should not take Sligo for granted this coming Sunday.
Both sides face each other in the Connacht Senior Football Championship for what will be the 59th time.
Sligo have taken just eight wins from those previous clashes but the five time provincial champion says Sligo are sitting a little prettier than some may think.
The Kevinsfort resident and former St Mary’s boss told the Sligo Champion: “Sligo are in a lovely situation because the pressure was on them to beat New York and they did that with some to spare.
“They also did it without the likes of Kevin McDonald and Ross Donovan and Cian Breheny and David Kelly didn’t start.
“You also have the younger boys too like Paddy O’Connor and Kyle Cawley so they’re in a good position squad wise and we have not seen the best of them yet.”
The All- Ireland minor title holder, who was once part of Peter Forde’s backroom staff at Markievicz Park says the pressure may tilt to Mayo’s side more than Sligo’s.
“I think most of the pressure will be on Mayo”, he said.
“They have Sligo coming to Castlebar and they’ll be expected down there to compete and do well and get at Galway in the semi- final. Really, there’s no pressure on Sligo. It just sets it all up nicely.”
Once an All- American title winner with Chicago’s John McBride’s, Kilgallon, who has lived in Sligo for 30 or so years, is complimentary when it comes to reviewing Sligo’s 2017 panel.
He says he is confident the team is as strong as the one which last pulled the Nestor Cup to the county ten years ago.
“I think this is the best Sligo squad in quite a while, it’s a strong panel”, he stated.
“Certainly since the 2007 squad.”
The watching public will hope for a black and white win but most will expect last year’s beaten All- Ireland finalists to overcome, particularly given the home advantage.
But TJ says Stephen Rochford’s men were not overly convincing at McHale Park this year.
He also questioned whether their forward line will take their chances come Sunday.
“From Mayo’s point of view it was a shaky league season”, he explained.
“They were probably better away from home with wins over Cavan and Monaghan.
“They ( Mayo) are strong at the back, they don’t have many problems there. But the question is can they score enough?
“They are hard working. Maybe not as good on the ball as they were but they’ll make up for that in work rate.
“This time last year I probably would have said they were over the hill. They were a bit lucky with the draw in the qualifiers but once they got to Croke Pak, the began to flow.
“They have huge experience in big games and that can only help.”
He also says the Yeatsmen’s trip stateside will go a long way to forging a camaraderie amongst the panel.
The 2002 run which saw Sligo beat Kildare and Tyrone before being eventually ousted by Armagh started with a win at Gaelic Park. TJ was part of the off- the- field team that year and says that could be a good omen.
“Every year Sligo have gone to New York they seem to have had a good year.
“We were there in 2002 and it seemed to bond the players together really well. It really helped us that year.
“Obviously you will have a few lads missing with exams and they fly back sporadically with work commitments etcetera but you end up being together for three of four days at least and that brings the lads together.”
Saying that, when push comes to shove, the Balla native still expects it to be Mayo facing Galway in the semi- final.
“I don’t know if they’re at the same levels as they have been the last few years but I would expect Mayo to still have too much power.
“But one thing for sure is they won’t take Sligo for granted.
“But from Sligo’s perspective, if they can match Mayo’s physicality then that will go a long way.”
Faith in their own ability will also play its part come 2pm Sunday. TJ concludes by saying that Niall Carew and his staff must have the confidence levels flowing come throw- in.
“You need belief when you go up against Mayo in Castlebar and it’s important Niall and the management instil that belief”, he said.
YOU NEED BELIEF WHEN YOU GO UP AGAINST MAYO IN CASTLEBAR IT’S IMPORTANT NIALL INSTILS THAT BELIEF