Ready for Galway

Markievicz Park the venue as Sligo take on Tribesmen

HUGE crowds are expected in Markievicz Park on Saturday for the Connacht GAA Football Senior Championship semi-final between hosts Sligo and Galway, a repeat of last year’s Connacht final.

Sligo lost that match in Castlebar by 14 points but Tony McEntee’s men are hoping to make amends this weekend.

Sligo defeated Leitrim in the quarter-final comfortably and with a solid Div 3 campaign, will be eager to put it up to the visitors.

Sligo selector Noel McGuire told The Sligo Champion that they are well aware of the task at hand with Galway a Div 1 team and 2022 All-Ireland finalists.

However, despite this, he said the Yeats county have the belief and the desire to go out and give a good account of themselves on the day.

The Easkey man said: “Galway are a Division One team, two Divisions above us so it Is a big ask under any circumstances.

“But we are delighted that the game is at home in Markievicz Park and we will find out if we have closed the gap on them and obviously there was a big gap between us in the Connacht final last year.

“We feel that we have closed the gap, but we won’t know for sure until Saturday.”

He said: “You have to be ready for every challenge you go into and there is no such thing as an easy ball-we have to be ready for that and bring our very best game and if we do, we think we have a chance.

He added: “It will be a huge ask but we are well set up, well prepared and are looking forward to the challenge.”

Meanwhile, the county’s U20 footballers have a crucial mustwin game this evening with Mayo in Castlebar, while the minors are at home to Leitrim in Markievicz Park on Friday with the county’s Senior hurlers travelling to McGovern Park Ruislip on Saturday for their Christy Ring Cup match with London.