Open pitch in Navan should suit our style
After a convenient home draw last time out, Sligo supporters now have to head east this Saturday evening in Round Two of the Qualifiers to Pairc Tailteann in Navan. Not only will this be an onerous cross- country journey for the travelling fans it may even be more difficult for the players unless we improve dramatically on our last performance.
We are facing a Meath side that were hugely disappointing when going down tamely to Kildare in the Leinster quarter final a couple of weeks ago. While this is an improving Kildare side who gained promotion to Division 1, Meath never really caused much concern even though interesting enough, they had the majority of possession at 60% to Kildare’s 40%. This was an unusual stat as Kildare won by 9 points, which shows that Meath were wasteful in possession and Kildare were very economical with theirs.
However, Meath were very impressive in their defeat against Louth in the first round of Leinster scoring 27 points, which is a very notable tally in Gaelic football. And even though they were the top scorers in Division two they lost out on promotion while averaging 20 points a game in the league and championship to date. These stats indicate a positive footballing style that can suit Sligo as we have struggled with blanket defences all year.
I feel it is unlikely that Meath at home will set up negatively based on their scoring potential which means we will have to be careful at the back as I’m not sure we are good enough to win an all- out shoot- out away from home.
Meath have a real match winner in Graham Reilly even though he was subdued against Kildare but scored seven points from play in the previous game against Louth. We will need to restrict his influence on the game to give us a chance of victory.
Sligo will look positively on the fact we have played our best football against footballing sides particularly against Tipperary in the early rounds of the league where the open confines of Semple Stadium suited our style of play.
In this regard Navan should suit us as it is a large open pitch. This will be the first meeting of Meath and Sligo in championship football even though we will have bitter memories of our last outing on this surface losing the replay of the All- Ireland quarter final to Armagh.
I’m not sure how many times over the years we have come up against a player on the opposition team whose father has played for Sligo, but next Saturday night Ronan Jones if selected at midfield for Meath, where he has played in their two previous championship games, will be one. Most of you at this stage is trying to figure this one out, the hint I’ll give, his father played at midfield against Roscommon in the championship in 1987 in that memorable win against our neighbours, incidentally a game I made my championship debut in. Well done if you figured it out, as Billy Jones, originally from County Clare who moved to Sligo in the eighties winning a Connacht Club title and numerous County Championships with St. Mary’s. Billy represented Sligo for a couple of years before his job took him to the east coast where he is now settled.
Word from Meath is that this was the game they wanted to get, which should provide plenty of motivation to Sligo and even though Meath are after coming off a defeat they will be strong favourites with home advantage.
In order to win this game we will need to be at a level well above the Antrim game but if we can put in a positive performance similar to the Tipperary game earlier in the year or like parts of the Mayo game in MacHale Park we have the ability to get the right result.
Sligo minors are one game away from a Connacht final minor appearance ( the last at under 18 level) when we face a talented Leitrim side in Markievicz Park tomorrow night Wednesday.
I have gotten involved in the background of this minor team managed by David Cummins over the last number of months and even though I have been very impressed with the application of the Sligo players it is going to take a big performance to get the better of our bordering county.
Earlier in the league, although we squeezed a victory, I was hugely impressed with some of the Leitrim players particularly in the forward line where they scored some outstanding points from play and showed a never- say- die attitude. I urge all Sligo fans to come to Markievicz Park tomorrow night and lend vocal support to this aspiring bunch of players.
In order to win this game we will need to be at a level well above the Antrim game but if we can put in a positive performance similar to the Tipperary game earlier in the year or like parts of the Mayo game we can get the right result.