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Awful news, condolences to Brendan's family and friends and all connected with Easkey GAA. My heart goes out to them. RIP.
Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1693 - 10/07/2024 19:55:30
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Replying To johncreilly: "A decent attempt in fairness Eoinog. League taking shape as players start to return.
Molaise are becoming so consistent and seem destined for yet another league final (if it's not already confirmed). Harps seem to be the only ones who could stop Tourlestrane joining them as they play this weekend. C/M beating Tubbercurry means it's likely Tubber will finally drop into divsion 2. They face Mary's on the second last day and will need a victory to stand any chance. Calry barring a miracle are gone. It looks to be the same for St. Farnans in the Division 2. Their loss to Castleconnor means they realistically need to win all remaining games to survive. Seems unlikely with no win to their name. The second relegation spot is now open and seems to be between Ballymote, Castleconnor, St. Pats and Bunninadden. Really could go any way at this point. At the top, it seems Drumcliffe and Enniscrone have all but sealed their places in the league final. Credit to Ennsicrone. It's been some time since they played Division 1 football so I'd imagine this big step for that group. Division 3 is interesting in that Cloonacool and Molaise are likely to be promoted but would Molaise come up or request to stay down there as they did after promotion last year? If Ballymote or another ended up in the second relegation spot from division 2, could they feel aggrieved? Anyway, plenty to play for over the next couple of weeks." As you say Molaise are powering ahead and now they will have the Co lads back. They are almost guaranteed a league final at this stage and it looks like Tourlestrane will be the team to join them. However if Harps were to beat them this weekend it would close the gap significantly and Shamrock Gaels will fancy their chances also. Tubbercurry and Calry appear to be doomed. Calry have improved a lot since the beginning of the league but with zero points on the board it's hard to be optimistic about their chances. Drumcliffe and Enniscrone look set to be promoted. I can't remember the last time Enniscrone were a Div 1 team. St Farnans look to be gone and if Ballymote beat Pat's this weekend you could see 3 teams on 4 points and one team on 5 so it's too close to call yet. Ballymote have a game in hand on the others.
Prediction for this weekend
Owenmore Gaels
Easkey
Ballymote
Geevagh
Drumcliffe
Shamrock Gaels
Coolera
Molaise
Tourlestrane
Curry
eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1861 - 12/07/2024 18:33:53
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Replying To eoinog: "As you say Molaise are powering ahead and now they will have the Co lads back. They are almost guaranteed a league final at this stage and it looks like Tourlestrane will be the team to join them. However if Harps were to beat them this weekend it would close the gap significantly and Shamrock Gaels will fancy their chances also. Tubbercurry and Calry appear to be doomed. Calry have improved a lot since the beginning of the league but with zero points on the board it's hard to be optimistic about their chances. Drumcliffe and Enniscrone look set to be promoted. I can't remember the last time Enniscrone were a Div 1 team. St Farnans look to be gone and if Ballymote beat Pat's this weekend you could see 3 teams on 4 points and one team on 5 so it's too close to call yet. Ballymote have a game in hand on the others.
Prediction for this weekend
Owenmore Gaels
Easkey
Ballymote
Geevagh
Drumcliffe
Shamrock Gaels
Coolera
Molaise
Tourlestrane
Curry" Geevagh played Drumcliffe. I think you got mixed up.
Taypot (Sligo) - Posts: 30 - 14/07/2024 19:07:26
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Good result for St Molaise seniors, 1-8 to 0-4 down at HT to turn that around and win 3-11 to 1-12 is impressive. Harps will be very disappointed losing 0-9 to 2-4 to Tourlestrane. Looking at the table it looks likely it will be a Molaise v Tourlestrane final. It will be tough to stay undefeated with Coolera coming to Grange next for us.
Harps are going to be very strong in the next few years, they are holding their own in Div1 and would be very strong at u20 and their minors hammered Molaise 5-14 to 7pts. We reacted to that defeat by drawing with Mary's in high quality encounter, we would have 3 county players so its no bad team. Harps u13s hammered Johns in the A championship too. Harps have their eye on the ball at underage that's for sure.
Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1693 - 15/07/2024 17:14:06
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Next year has to be all shoulders to the wheel for seniors. Nice to think Down and maybe Galway are the two winners this year and we didn't disgrace ourselves against either. I find it frustrating when Sligo run top teams close and don't push on from it the following year. Is this team hardy enough to put it in again next year ?
SligoScot (Sligo) - Posts: 39 - 15/07/2024 19:17:52
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Replying To Sligonian: "Good result for St Molaise seniors, 1-8 to 0-4 down at HT to turn that around and win 3-11 to 1-12 is impressive. Harps will be very disappointed losing 0-9 to 2-4 to Tourlestrane. Looking at the table it looks likely it will be a Molaise v Tourlestrane final. It will be tough to stay undefeated with Coolera coming to Grange next for us.
Harps are going to be very strong in the next few years, they are holding their own in Div1 and would be very strong at u20 and their minors hammered Molaise 5-14 to 7pts. We reacted to that defeat by drawing with Mary's in high quality encounter, we would have 3 county players so its no bad team. Harps u13s hammered Johns in the A championship too. Harps have their eye on the ball at underage that's for sure." Tour still manage to pull out results like that. It was inevitable with the work being done and the numbers out there that Harps would come again. They are where Molaise were a few years ago. Once they get over the Intermediate Championship hurdle which is a tricky one, they will be there or thereabouts at senior level for a long time.
johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 69 - 16/07/2024 09:33:15
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Agree it looks like a Molaise v Tourlestrane league final. Sham Gaels are on a big run of late, will stand to them in a couple of weeks for championship. Agree on Harps, they will be odds on to win intermediate this year and have the players to cause trouble at senior wise and will be in contention for Owen B in 2-4 years.
Looks like in the South we will have a tasty local derby in Division 2 in 2025 - Cloonacool look set to be promoted while Tubbercurry have a big task to stay in Div one. I dont think people realise who big of a derby game this is - more for Cloonacool lads tbh. Bunninadden have a fight on their hands to stay in Div 2 for 2025 but heard they have been very unlucky with injuries to key players and are down to just about been able to field a team. Disappointing, as everyone likes the Bunnies.
So no games all Ireland weekend and players out the following weekend, Does that mean league finals would be the week before championship? Has the CCC not learned from past mistakes and either have games earlier in the year or have the rule that top of the league at the end of the year are the winners.
It is also wrong that Easkey and Ballymote have to play 3 games in 7 days - player welfare?
RealSouthSligo (Sligo) - Posts: 102 - 16/07/2024 11:14:15
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Replying To RealSouthSligo: "Agree it looks like a Molaise v Tourlestrane league final. Sham Gaels are on a big run of late, will stand to them in a couple of weeks for championship. Agree on Harps, they will be odds on to win intermediate this year and have the players to cause trouble at senior wise and will be in contention for Owen B in 2-4 years.
Looks like in the South we will have a tasty local derby in Division 2 in 2025 - Cloonacool look set to be promoted while Tubbercurry have a big task to stay in Div one. I dont think people realise who big of a derby game this is - more for Cloonacool lads tbh. Bunninadden have a fight on their hands to stay in Div 2 for 2025 but heard they have been very unlucky with injuries to key players and are down to just about been able to field a team. Disappointing, as everyone likes the Bunnies.
So no games all Ireland weekend and players out the following weekend, Does that mean league finals would be the week before championship? Has the CCC not learned from past mistakes and either have games earlier in the year or have the rule that top of the league at the end of the year are the winners.
It is also wrong that Easkey and Ballymote have to play 3 games in 7 days - player welfare?" Shamrock Gaels suffered hard early on with absences but seem to be gathering momentum as you said. With that group in Championship, who knows where they could go this year. When they have a full deck to play with, they look a really good side. Marys blowing that lead and losing against Molaise means that if Tubber can beat them, it would put them above them on head to head heading into the last day. It really would be typical of Tubber to survive after looking like they were gone. Watched C/S and C/M in the battle of the forward slash on Saturday. Coolaney seem to be better setup this year and are the obvious threat to Harps in Intermediate. It still looked like Coolera could come up the gears though and will be primed well come championship.
Not sure on your statement about the Bunnies. I can attest to not liking them a few times over the years lol. A lot of clubs struggling with injuries and the US at the moment. Geevagh have had their big guys missing to be fair to them. Ballymote struggling with Lavin now gone, Farnans really struggling with not only the absence of Paddy O'Connor, but plenty of others. Easkey have been playing without many of their panel so far this year. Castleconnor seemed to really struggle with numbers early on in the league but have got a couple of wins now. I had presumed Carrabine was back for them but apparently not yet. All of that is not taking away from Enniscrone who as I said last week, have done so well to return to Division 1 after over 25 years. I see them taking a scalp or two in championship.
St. Johns are the big surprise in Division 3 and for all the wrong reasons. I really hoped that they would kick on after surviving in Intermediate last year. To be still lingering around the bottom of the third tier is really disappointing for the club I'm sure. Hopefully, they can get their act together. Sligo football needs a good Johns team and I know that there is good work being done at underage. Cloonacool as you said are on their way back up to Division 2 and I think everyone will be glad to see that. Great work being done out there to keep things going. A club ground I always enjoy visiting.
johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 69 - 16/07/2024 11:51:32
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Replying To RealSouthSligo: "Agree it looks like a Molaise v Tourlestrane league final. Sham Gaels are on a big run of late, will stand to them in a couple of weeks for championship. Agree on Harps, they will be odds on to win intermediate this year and have the players to cause trouble at senior wise and will be in contention for Owen B in 2-4 years.
Looks like in the South we will have a tasty local derby in Division 2 in 2025 - Cloonacool look set to be promoted while Tubbercurry have a big task to stay in Div one. I dont think people realise who big of a derby game this is - more for Cloonacool lads tbh. Bunninadden have a fight on their hands to stay in Div 2 for 2025 but heard they have been very unlucky with injuries to key players and are down to just about been able to field a team. Disappointing, as everyone likes the Bunnies.
So no games all Ireland weekend and players out the following weekend, Does that mean league finals would be the week before championship? Has the CCC not learned from past mistakes and either have games earlier in the year or have the rule that top of the league at the end of the year are the winners.
It is also wrong that Easkey and Ballymote have to play 3 games in 7 days - player welfare?" The CCC have backed themselves into this corner scheduling 9 rounds of the league in 11 weeks. Ballymote had to call off the easkey game due to a bereavement and thus was no free weekend to play it as most lads I'd imagine will be away the all Ireland weekend as it was flagged as free for a long time.
Ballymote have 3 games in 6 days to be exact. Hopefully the ccc will try a different approach next year after this year's shambles but I won't hold my breath!
westvoice (Sligo) - Posts: 50 - 16/07/2024 11:56:25
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Replying To westvoice: "The CCC have backed themselves into this corner scheduling 9 rounds of the league in 11 weeks. Ballymote had to call off the easkey game due to a bereavement and thus was no free weekend to play it as most lads I'd imagine will be away the all Ireland weekend as it was flagged as free for a long time.
Ballymote have 3 games in 6 days to be exact. Hopefully the ccc will try a different approach next year after this year's shambles but I won't hold my breath!" when you put it like that - 3 games in 6 days, that is tough going. Think as a GAA fan and I would say if you asked club players, everyone would have loved to see some earlier games played in the league, this would help with player welfare and help reduce injuries for clubs. I did not think it was that bad , playing 9 rounds of the league in 11 weeks is crazy.
Wonder what players think? In fairness, if you have a game every weekend, it is something to look forward to ? On the flip side, if you do not have a large panel of players - injuries could be an issue for clubs.
RealSouthSligo (Sligo) - Posts: 102 - 16/07/2024 12:49:44
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Replying To westvoice: "The CCC have backed themselves into this corner scheduling 9 rounds of the league in 11 weeks. Ballymote had to call off the easkey game due to a bereavement and thus was no free weekend to play it as most lads I'd imagine will be away the all Ireland weekend as it was flagged as free for a long time.
Ballymote have 3 games in 6 days to be exact. Hopefully the ccc will try a different approach next year after this year's shambles but I won't hold my breath!" We had no football for the first half of the year because I don't count those stupid warm up competitions and then the games come thick and fast. Ballymote are in a precarious position. They need points badly. They have Easkey tomorrow and 48 hour's later they are away to Castleconnor . Easkey have a very small chance of promotion so they will have everyone rounded up for the midweek game . On Friday evening Ballymote play Castleconnor who need the win to ensure they remain in Div 2. It could easily boil down to the last game of the league between Ballymote and the Bunnies with the losers going to Div 3. I don't think any of those two club's would fancy that scenario with them joined at the hip at underage.
eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1861 - 16/07/2024 13:02:55
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Replying To westvoice: "The CCC have backed themselves into this corner scheduling 9 rounds of the league in 11 weeks. Ballymote had to call off the easkey game due to a bereavement and thus was no free weekend to play it as most lads I'd imagine will be away the all Ireland weekend as it was flagged as free for a long time.
Ballymote have 3 games in 6 days to be exact. Hopefully the ccc will try a different approach next year after this year's shambles but I won't hold my breath!" Had they started at May Bank Holiday or week after, this wouldn't have been an issue. Leave 4 free weeks. 2 completely free so players can enjoy a weekend off or plan something and 2 for back games if required.
The CCC make things much harder than they need to be.
Bumblebee123 (Sligo) - Posts: 45 - 16/07/2024 15:19:14
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Fixtures seem to be a major issue this year you'd think you'd learn from mistakes in previous ones. Time to scrap spring league and have it as a knockout competition.
As regards final two rounds Tourlestrane could afford to lose both games and still be in the league final if other results went their way so they'd be hot favourites to joint Molaise. Calry are already gone and I can't see Tubber picking up points. Tbh they've been avoiding relegation for a long time.
Well done to Enniscrone who are a real surprise package in Division 2 and Drumcliffe look set to finally get out of it. It's all very interesting in the lower end of things with Farnans potentially facing relegation two years in a row. I fancy them to beat Geevagh but not Easkey leaving them with 4, I don't see Ballymote beating Easkey or Castleconnor also leaving them with 2 before they play Bunninadden meaning even if they won that game they'd be relegated.
As for Division 3 you'd be very disappointed with Michael's and Johns not doing better given the help they had to prevent them from relegation in recent times. They really needed to bounce back and prove they were outlying years
Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 394 - 16/07/2024 15:41:05
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Replying To SligoScot: "Next year has to be all shoulders to the wheel for seniors. Nice to think Down and maybe Galway are the two winners this year and we didn't disgrace ourselves against either. I find it frustrating when Sligo run top teams close and don't push on from it the following year. Is this team hardy enough to put it in again next year ?" Shoulder to the wheel as you say, Sligoscot. With Towey, Spillane, Reilly back with the new batch of u20s to come in should make us push on again. Hopefully a few non county lads in the clubs show well too. Hopefully Carrabine comes back from travelling early enough in the season. Once you have momentum you have to keep it going and I'd say all the players know that.
Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1693 - 16/07/2024 20:48:43
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Replying To Sligonian: "Shoulder to the wheel as you say, Sligoscot. With Towey, Spillane, Reilly back with the new batch of u20s to come in should make us push on again. Hopefully a few non county lads in the clubs show well too. Hopefully Carrabine comes back from travelling early enough in the season. Once you have momentum you have to keep it going and I'd say all the players know that." I don't see many of the U-20s making much a push initially but I hope I'm wrong. Towey was a miss in the end. I felt wqe ran out of running power towards the end of that game. And I think with Murphy a year older, we certainly need to look at getting Reilly back in. Has Carrabine gone travelling? Is he not playing club football this year? He would be a big loss for club and county.
johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 69 - 17/07/2024 09:09:40
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Replying To SligoScot: "Next year has to be all shoulders to the wheel for seniors. Nice to think Down and maybe Galway are the two winners this year and we didn't disgrace ourselves against either. I find it frustrating when Sligo run top teams close and don't push on from it the following year. Is this team hardy enough to put it in again next year ?" I would hope the team is strong enough to keep the momentum going. I still think we lack a bit of physical presence in the middle area of the field. It would be great to get a 6'3 or 6'4 lad that's fit and mobile but I don't think they are in the county at the moment. Ross Doherty might fit the bill in a few years time. No amount of S&C will make a 5'11 lad into a 6'2 . With the upturn in fortunes for Armagh it looks like MC Geeney will be going nowhere in the short term so our manager won't be required to fill the gap just yet. Whether he wants to stay or whether the county board want him to stay I think is still up in the air. Interesting that Joyce is 6 years with Galway and MC Geeney 20 year's with Armagh. Social media channels were often crammed with people trying to get rid of them. Keelan Cawley the great warrior from Coolera has retired from Co Football. I'm not sure how many times he played for Sligo but it was long over a 100 over 14 years. It's a pity he hasn't much to show in Silverware for it. I hope the young lads appreciates what they have achieved at underage and it drives them on for more success.
eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1861 - 17/07/2024 10:25:50
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Replying To eoinog: "I would hope the team is strong enough to keep the momentum going. I still think we lack a bit of physical presence in the middle area of the field. It would be great to get a 6'3 or 6'4 lad that's fit and mobile but I don't think they are in the county at the moment. Ross Doherty might fit the bill in a few years time. No amount of S&C will make a 5'11 lad into a 6'2 . With the upturn in fortunes for Armagh it looks like MC Geeney will be going nowhere in the short term so our manager won't be required to fill the gap just yet. Whether he wants to stay or whether the county board want him to stay I think is still up in the air. Interesting that Joyce is 6 years with Galway and MC Geeney 20 year's with Armagh. Social media channels were often crammed with people trying to get rid of them. Keelan Cawley the great warrior from Coolera has retired from Co Football. I'm not sure how many times he played for Sligo but it was long over a 100 over 14 years. It's a pity he hasn't much to show in Silverware for it. I hope the young lads appreciates what they have achieved at underage and it drives them on for more success." Typo. 10 years with Armagh
eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1861 - 17/07/2024 11:50:26
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Replying To eoinog: "I would hope the team is strong enough to keep the momentum going. I still think we lack a bit of physical presence in the middle area of the field. It would be great to get a 6'3 or 6'4 lad that's fit and mobile but I don't think they are in the county at the moment. Ross Doherty might fit the bill in a few years time. No amount of S&C will make a 5'11 lad into a 6'2 . With the upturn in fortunes for Armagh it looks like MC Geeney will be going nowhere in the short term so our manager won't be required to fill the gap just yet. Whether he wants to stay or whether the county board want him to stay I think is still up in the air. Interesting that Joyce is 6 years with Galway and MC Geeney 20 year's with Armagh. Social media channels were often crammed with people trying to get rid of them. Keelan Cawley the great warrior from Coolera has retired from Co Football. I'm not sure how many times he played for Sligo but it was long over a 100 over 14 years. It's a pity he hasn't much to show in Silverware for it. I hope the young lads appreciates what they have achieved at underage and it drives them on for more success." Management team are the key to pushing on next year. They need to be ruthless in everything they do to get the best team playing every game... no passengers. Fitness is key and a no hiding place early on in January would set the bar for the year ahead. It is for me the best opportunity we have ever had to break in to the top table in a few years time. I would imagine it is not McEntees style to be a serious man motivator so I hope his team around him have the balls to drive these lads on to great things. Sligo history tells me, i'm dreaming. Not to push on now would be a failure of both management and players.
SligoScot (Sligo) - Posts: 39 - 17/07/2024 13:32:30
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Id expect an announcement on McEntee soon. The CB want him back for sure. It will be his call. He maybe looking for multiple years extension too.
Armagh CB will have sounded McEntee out. There was a sign outside McGeeney's house last year wanting him to resign and "Tony Mac In" painted on to it. Id say that's not there anymore.
McEntee may wait until after the AI to see if McGeeney will call it a day, win or lose he's been there a long time and may want a break.
We need to be mindful either way, McEntee may have reached his ceiling, his loyalty to some players who aren't the best could curtail us so don't expect any ruthlessness, and also if we do have to replace him, its needs to be a improvement. McEntee leaving doesn't mean things will be better or guarantee success but Id have high hopes for the likes of a McGowan.
Personally I'd still move on from McEntee but I'd be ok with a 1 year commitment max, a multi year commitment would be very disappointing. They made some pretty big mistakes on the line against Down and game management late on is still poor in big games.
Congrats to Keelan Cawley on his Sligo career, absolute warrior who put his body on the line for us, the right time and decision to retire. He soldiered for us through a lot of tough years, a pity to not have won Connacht in his early years. He always brought a great energy and intensity to the hb/hf role. Thanks for all the commitment over the years.
Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1693 - 17/07/2024 16:57:03
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Replying To Sligonian: "Id expect an announcement on McEntee soon. The CB want him back for sure. It will be his call. He maybe looking for multiple years extension too.
Armagh CB will have sounded McEntee out. There was a sign outside McGeeney's house last year wanting him to resign and "Tony Mac In" painted on to it. Id say that's not there anymore.
McEntee may wait until after the AI to see if McGeeney will call it a day, win or lose he's been there a long time and may want a break.
We need to be mindful either way, McEntee may have reached his ceiling, his loyalty to some players who aren't the best could curtail us so don't expect any ruthlessness, and also if we do have to replace him, its needs to be a improvement. McEntee leaving doesn't mean things will be better or guarantee success but Id have high hopes for the likes of a McGowan.
Personally I'd still move on from McEntee but I'd be ok with a 1 year commitment max, a multi year commitment would be very disappointing. They made some pretty big mistakes on the line against Down and game management late on is still poor in big games.
Congrats to Keelan Cawley on his Sligo career, absolute warrior who put his body on the line for us, the right time and decision to retire. He soldiered for us through a lot of tough years, a pity to not have won Connacht in his early years. He always brought a great energy and intensity to the hb/hf role. Thanks for all the commitment over the years." Sligonian will stick a "McGowan In" sign outside Tony Macs.
Who has he been too loyal to? I haven't seen too many knocking on the door.
What "pretty big" mistakes did they make on the line versus Down?
The grass is always greener and maybe you'll be proven right, but I can't see the evidence to suggest that we shouldn't be looking to keep him for another couple of years if he wanted to. I think you should be changing management teams when you are sure a cycle of improvement is over. Are you sure it is? Maybe.
Bumblebee123 (Sligo) - Posts: 45 - 18/07/2024 08:51:53
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