Tourlestrane favourites to retain Championship

THE Eamonn O’Hara/Gerry McGowan managed Tourlestrane are favourites to win back to back Senior championship titles this year, according to Paddy Power bookmakers.

The south Sligo side, who defeated St Mary’s in last year’s decider, are 5/4 favourites to claim the Owen B Hunt trophy for the 13th time.

They breezed through Group 3, with victories over Eastern Harps and Coolaney/Mullinabreena.

Neighbours Tubbercurry are 9/4 to win the Championship and the Pat Kilcoyne-managed side have been in impressive form during the Group stages, where they topped Group 1, with three wins from three, which gives them a bye into the semi-final. They saw past second place St Mary’s, Eastern Harps and Curry. Tubbercurry have won the Owen B title 20 times, the most any other club has reached.

St Mary’s, Senior champions in 2015 and runners-up last year, are 4/1 to win their 12th title this year. Glenn Young’s men defeated Eastern Harps and Curry also in Group 1, finishing second.

Coolaney/Mullinabreena, who finished second in Group 3 after defeating Drumcliffe/Rosses Point, are 9/1 to bring the Owen B Hunt trophy home to Mullinabreena for only the second time in the club’s history. It’s been 59 years since the club won the Senior honours.

Meanwhile Coolera/Strandhill are tipped at 14/1 to claim their third title and the John McPartland Jnr managed seasiders have improved on their League form, winning two games from two in Group 2, over Calry/St Joseph’s and St Molaise Gaels.

The Shane King-managed Eastern Harps, who were winners in 2010 are 14/1, with the Keashbased club hoping to win their 8th title.

Calry/St Joseph’s are 33/1 to lift the Owen B Hunt trophy for 2017 and what a memorable year that would be for the club, who have never won the title or featured in the final. With Sligo U21 captain Darragh Cummins, who made the U21 All-Ireland team of the year in their midst, anything is possible.

Quarter-finals Coolera/Strandhill v Eastern Harps Calry/St Joseph’s v Tourlestrane Coolaney/Mullinabreena v St Mary’s Tubbercurry have bye into semi-finals

U12 mascots from clubs around the county lining out alongside the Geevagh and St Nathy’s teams ahead of the Senior final in Markievicz Park on Saturday. Pic: Carl Brennan

The Tourlestrane team of 1956 who won the club’s first Sligo Senior Championship. Back row: J Walsh, E Lundy, I Feely, E Haran, W Haran, M Christie, J Walsh, O Kirrane, G Dunne, P Kennedy and R Goulding. Front row: J Walsh, T Nealon, D Scannell, E...