Disappointed Henry undecided on future
SLIGO ladies manager Paddy Henry says he is yet to decide whether he will seek a fifth year in charge of the team.
Henry took over at the helm in 2015 and lead the Yeats County to a Division 3 title that year, two Connacht crowns and three All-Ireland intermediate semi-finals, including the weekend’s narrow defeat to Tyrone.
The Tourlestrane man, who also lead Sligo to a Junior All-Ireland title in his first year involved in ladies’ football in 2006, said he was heart broken but hugely proud of his side’s effort following Sligo’s 3-14 to 3-10 loss.
Sligo somehow managed to claw back a six point deficit late on, only to suffer a late sucker punch in the shape of two Tyrone scores at the very death.
“We’re absolutely gutted”, he told the Sligo Champion.
“It looked like it was out of our hands in the first half only for Noelle (Gormley) to pull off two marvellous saves for us. That kept us in the game really and we came back at them with some great scores.
“At the end of the day when we drew level, we had two decent chances to go forward and maybe kick points and I think that would have killed off the game.
“We were on the road at that stage and I think their heads were dropping.
“They got up the other end of the field and kicked a point and the goal and that’s killed us.
“Tyrone have a lot of senior players there, a few All-Stars and have a good blend of youth and experience. We probably have too much youth and not enough experience but overall I cannot ask any more than what these girls have given me.
“They gave everything they had and we asked them to leave everything on the field and they did that.”
Tyrone struck for their third and final goal when Sligo, one point down, had committed players forward in search of a leveller.
“We had to go for it”, Henry stated. “The chance might have fallen but it didn’t and they did and they took their chance. Simple as that.”
He was coy when asked about his own future. “I still have to think about it”, he said.
“I’ll make a decision down the road.”
As for Sligo ladies football, Henry believes be it he or somebody else in charge, the future of the game in this county is promising.
“We have four or five minors that came through from last year’s team and hopefully this experience will stand to them.
“Each of those younger girls have big futures ahead of them. The likes of Aoife Morrisroe, Michelle McNamara, Sinead Regan and Tara Walsh. They’re all 18 or 19 and it’s all in front of them. You never know, down the line you might pick up one or two more and whoever will be in charge will have some fine players to choose from.
“Sligo football is not far off a high. We lost our Division Two status but we’re not far off a team that can bring us back up and push to a higher grade and that’s what this county needs. If you don’t play at a higher grade then you won’t be able to match teams like Tyrone.”