All set for London
WITH Sligo’s opening game in the 2018 Connacht Championship nearly here the black and white army are making the short trip to London for Sunday’s match in McGovern Park, Ruislip.
Sligo retreated back to the Northwest in dismay five years ago when Kevin Walsh’s men were defeated by the Londoners and with an element of the unknown about the city slickers it’s something new boss Cathal Corey is certainly not taking any chances with this time around.
Sligo had an up and down Allianz League, the highlight coming in their impressive final game with Derry which saw them retain their Division 3 status. The Allianz League and the FBD League were both used by Corey to try out some new players which the Tyrone man said worked out very well. Six of the current team were in Ruislip five years ago so there is a sense of redemption about Sunday’s match.
Corey said Sligo are definitely fully aware of the threat London pose and have to be completely focused on what they have to do to come back with a victory.
“We are looking forward to it. I suppose the league football the last 3 or 4 weeks has been a wee bit of a distraction, for the county players went back to their clubs after the National League and we kept the training going during the week and do a small bit of work on a Sunday morning but it was hard to keep the focus and keep talking about London that far out but now we are really focused on London and looking forward to it.”
The Tyrone man said they have been following this London team to see what their opponents will be like. “We watched videos and I suppose everybody will know their key players but their stance this year they seem to be well organised and they’re playing strong as a team and it’s going to be a big challenge for Sligo now but we are looking forward to this Championship. We are into a nice time of the year now and everybody is mad to go.” he added.
He said of his players: “There is a good mix there and we still have a lot of good experienced players too playing as well now as they have ever played and then we have new fellas come in and they are enjoying it and being a part of it and they are proud to be playing for Sligo and it is a good mix.
“We had a good National League there and game time for players and now myself and the backroom team have a tough job of getting the team right for London and thank god everybody is in good shape and ready to go.”
Going back to the National League, Corey said Sligo had a tough opening day with Armagh. “Armagh were very, very good. They had a lot of work done. They had been going since last September and they were in good shape and were just too strong for us on the day. We came back again against Wexford and then all the other games after that we were competitive in. We had a great start against Fermanagh and played at times well against Westmeath and then against Longford at home was probably the best we played in the League and we should have won but we were delighted to get a point out of it. Offaly game was a wee bit of a funny game, the weather conditions with it called off on the Sunday and we had to go back on the Monday but we played some great football at time as well. Two games were called off in the National League and refixed so that was a bit of a distraction. With Derry then it was all hands to the pump that day, we had to get a result and Derry came down too having to win so it was a big big game and we learned a lot about our team that day and they played right and thank god we stayed in Division 3. The boys were brilliant on the day all of them played brilliantly as a team,” he added.
Corey said that with the new law that players go back to their clubs in April it’s hard to say what the reaction is about it. “We’re probably the team that suffers the most from it as we are the team first out in the championship, the other teams are getting players back for another couple of weeks but we have to go out the first week in May.
“It’s the first year that it’s happened so it’s hard to know. We’ll have to sit back and look at it. If everything doesn’t go well in London it will probably have been a bad thing because the players should have got more rest. For the clubs it was brilliant getting players back playing club football was good for the clubs. Big crowds turned out for the matches and there was a good buzz about the county players playing the whole month with the clubs. It was good that way. It’s the first time it’s happened so it will be interesting to see what the view is across the whole country.”
In terms of injuries, he said Keelan Cawley is the worst of the lads. The Coolera/Strandhill man has a stress fracture in his knee. “He is going to struggle to make London and there are a few other fellas with wee niggles but we’re hoping they will clear up. It will be the middle of the week before we know what way everybody is.”
The experienced players will be key on Sunday too he added. “Charlie Harrison and Ross Donovan have been brilliant for us and Neil Ewing, Adrian Marren too. He got a few niggles in the club matches but he is hoping to be okay for the game. He is going great and all these fellas have been to Ruislip before, they know how tough it’s going to be and they can speak to the other players about that and use their experience,” he said.
“It’s been a big year for captain Kevin McDonnell too. At the start of the year he had that bad injury and he did an awful lot of work he was in the gym every night of the week, you can see that man working away, he just wants to play for Sligo all the time. He is so proud to play for Sligo and he is such a good captain. He got the great goal against Derry and showed leadership and it’s going to be a big day for Kevin and his family now leading the team out in Ruislip and I hope everything goes great for Kevin because he is a fantastic fella,” he added.
Corey said: “I suppose with a team like London it depends on how much work is in London at the time, players go in and come out of London and it’s hard for London and it’s hard for their manager too but they seem to have a good solid team this year. They had all their National League matches at home and they have settled on the team and it’s going to be a tough, tough game.
“Sean Carrabine’s brother David is playing with them as is Shane McManus who is a good player too and Cormac Coyne. They will be looking forward to getting to play against Sligo too. It will be funny to see the two brothers too on different sides.
“Sean has been great, his attitude is that he just wants to play football for Sligo at this level and does whatever it takes he never misses a training he makes sacrifices has a great attitude and is a lovely fella.”
Corey said he has been impressed by the set-up in Sligo since taking over last October. “Everything has been impressive out there in Scarden. The County Board has been excellent and ambitious too. They want to see Sligo as one of the top teams. The facilities in Scarden is as good as anywhere in the country. Players’ attitudes are good they are always on time and they train hard. Everybody in Sligo just wants the best for Sligo and want to get Sligo to the next level and that’s what we’re working towards.
“Hopefully there will be a good crowd from Sligo over there. It would be nice to see and hear a bit of a roar when we come out. We’re really looking forward to it.
“Sligo has been the first time I got the opportunity to work with a county team and it’s been great. It’s all been a challenge,” he laughed. “Every week a new challenge comes up. I’m lucky my backroom team are fantastic and Paul Rouse, Gerry McGowan, Aaron Kyles, Damien Eames our goalkeeping coach, Tony Scullion, fantastic doctor and physios. Padraic Clancy and John McPartland are brilliant and just do anything that needs to be done, Eamonn McMunn too. Everybody works well together. Everybody is working hard to get Sligo to the next level,” he said.
If the result goes Sligo’s way on Sunday, they will be meeting the winners of Mayo and Galway but it’s not something Corey is thinking about just yet.
“We’re not even going passed the ball being thrown in in Ruislip, that’s the way it is and that’s where the focus is and then hopefully if we get over that then we will look forward to whatever comes down the line. At the minute we cannot afford to take our eyes off London,” Corey added.
HOPEFULLY THERE WILL BE A GOOD CROWD FROM SLIGO OVER THERE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO SEE AND HEAR A BIT OF A ROAR WHEN WE COME OUT. WE’RE REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.