Carew not taking any chances ahead of Saturday’s Qualifier with Antrim
SLIGO manager Niall Carew says his side are not taking any chances ahead of Saturday’s Qualifier with Antrim in Markievicz Park.
The teams met in the Allianz League back in March in Corrigan Park, Belfast, and it was the Northeners who came away with a one- point win, eleven points to Sligo’s 1- 7 after the Yeats men travelled home ruing a number of missed chances.
With a home draw for Carew’s men this weekend, many are fancying Sligo’s chances but the Kildare manager says there is no room for complacency going into this fixture.
He said: “The way we look on it, they are on the same level as us.
“We played them in the Division 3 League earlier this year and they beat us.
“So we know what we need to do and we certainly won’t be complacent about this game,” the manager points out.
He said that his side are aware they need to be at their best in order to get the result.
Carew adds: “We know that if we don’t get the performance right on Saturday, then we won’t get the result.
“This is Championship football and all the results are showing all over the country that every team is very competitive.
“Gone are the days of big thumpings, teams are longer in games and of course there’s a bit of luck that comes into it too to get over the line.”
He adds that it’s going to be a close encounter on Saturday in Markievicz Park.
“It is going to be a big game, a tight game and there will be an ebb and flow to it all over the field.”
Carew says the loss to the Saffrons back in March did teach Sligo a thing or two.
“I think we did learn from that game. We will know more on whether it did or not on Saturday.
“They are a good side, we have a good handle on them and they have a good handle on us.
“We know what’s needed and that we have to keep on winning from here on in,” the manager explains.
Having the match at home in Markievicz Park is a plus going into the weekend he admits.
“Look we can’t say it’s not a positive having the match in Markievicz.
“Although by saying that, it won’t guarantee anything either and we know that. It means that we will know the environment and it’s always a big plus playing there.”
It was May 21st when Carew’s side were last in competitive action, when they travelled to MacHale Park, Castlebar, where they put up a fight against Mayo.
It will be four weeks since their last competitive match since the Mayo game, where they lost by nine points.
The manager said there were positives to take from the team’s overall performance on that day.
“I think we performed well enough against Mayo and we were happy with the few weeks’ break.”
Two players are out due to injury for Antrim this Saturday.
David Kelly has been ruled out of action due to a hamstring while Cian Breheny is unable to play too.
“David will be out for a few weeks, while Cian too had a very bad hamstring injury.
“He missed the Mayo game as well and was a big loss on that day,” Carew adds.
Niall Murphy, who was also out injured with a hamstring and came on as a substitute against Mayo, is back.
“Niall is back training and hopefully he will be good to go on Saturday.”
Eoin McHugh, who picked up a nasty knock against Mayo, is also fit for Saturday,
“We don’t have any other real injuries aside from David and Cian,” the manager says.
The Saffrons are a decent side according to Carew, who points out that Sligo will need a big performance on the day.
“Antrim are a good side, they have a good set of players and they are a tough team. We will have to put in a good performance to beat them.”
He has previously said the aim is to reach the final eight this year, but despite that, focus is entirely on Saturday. “It is our target to reach the last eight but there’s no point looking at targets if you can’t get over the first one.” With Saturday’s game having a 5pm throw- in, Carew expects a big crowd. “I think we will have a large crowd. Sligo people are always good supporting and we will have to give it our everything,” he adds.