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'Management then decided to have an extra 3 or 4 min team talk at Half time to sort out all the issues' - do you realise how pathetic this sounds? You'd find issue with what colour socks this management wears. The length of their team talk? My god

BreakingBall123 (Sligo) - Posts: 101 - 17/03/2025 14:42:24    2596903

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Replying To BreakingBall123:  "'Management then decided to have an extra 3 or 4 min team talk at Half time to sort out all the issues' - do you realise how pathetic this sounds? You'd find issue with what colour socks this management wears. The length of their team talk? My god"
Just stating what happened, Breaking ball123. Our first 15 mins of the second half was 7pts to zero. You may have missed that part. We came out very flat. The HT break didn't do us any good that's for sure.

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1808 - 17/03/2025 16:03:19    2596912

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After a reasonably positive post match post from Sligonian he returned to form later on with his vitriol tirade aimed at the mgt . He is now name dropping Luke Bree at every opportunity the same way that he hounded Caroline Currid and Joe Keaney.

Taypot (Sligo) - Posts: 103 - 17/03/2025 16:11:28    2596914

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Replying To Sligonian:  "Just stating what happened, Breaking ball123. Our first 15 mins of the second half was 7pts to zero. You may have missed that part. We came out very flat. The HT break didn't do us any good that's for sure."
Fact - we were very flat
Speculation - this is because managements team talk went on too long.

I didn't miss that, I also didn't miss that we kicked on after the second substitution and wrestled back momentum kicking 4 or 5 in a row. Anybody can pick whatever narrative they want, we won the game. We're in pole position to stay up which didn't look likely after Round 3.

BreakingBall123 (Sligo) - Posts: 101 - 18/03/2025 09:46:30    2596984

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Congratulations to the team, mgt and indeed the supporters that travelled on Sunday . To go to that venue and beat a team that knew that they also had to win was commendable. It wasn't the perfect performance and we were run over at the beginning of the second half and I honestly thought we were cooked. However the team showed character and leadership and we finished the stronger team. A loss would have drained the confidence in us, left us in Div 4, a hiding in Castlebar in the championship and probably be unable to get out of our group in the Tailteann Cup. This victory doesn't leave us safe yet but we should be able to negotiate Leitrim at home next weekend .
It's a pity we are getting a bye in the first round of the U.20 championship. It would be nice to get out the first day, see what we are like. This is Paul Henry's third year with the U.20 set up and the team isn't as strong as previous teams he had. I wish him well and hopefully we can make the semi finals at least.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2052 - 18/03/2025 11:33:59    2597007

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Replying To Sligonian:  "From the reports from the plenty of Molaise people who were at the game, very impressive 1st half. Played some great football and made Antrim look very poor, maybe they are. Management then decided to have an extra 3 or 4 min team talk at Half time to sort out all the issues and as you all know it had the desired effect of us going from 1-11 to 6 pts up to 1-11 to 1-10 so 7 pts to no score swing. I know Anto you say it is very amateurish if subs are pre planned but they've taken off Towey in the last 3 games around the 50 min mark despite him playing very well. Spillane who was motoring well got taken off after scoring a great point on 51 mins today. I can't help but think its preplanned because why would you take off players who are top in their position. I know we lost the 3rd qtr badly but Spillane just got our 1st score 2nd half and Towey was still playing well. I think they maybe basing on distance covered or high energy runs on the GPS. Subs didn't turn the game in our favor btw. Others stepped up.

We did well to wrestle back momentum second half. Most said we are moving the ball well. We have trouble following runners and that will be exposed heavily against Mayo who are flying right now. We seem to lose our way second half. Lyons and McGuinness played well by all accounts. The general consensus is we have a good team that should be competing for promotion in Division 3 but we have a poor management who find ways to hold us back.

It didn't take Mickey Harte or Luke Bree long to get to know their players or adapt to the new rules. Offaly are on the brink of promotion to Divison 2. Last May Offaly lost 2-20 to 0-12 to London. He did the similar with Louth. Harte hasn't a bad track record of bringing through good underage players."
I'm not a fan of the Management team either however your reason for criticising them are getting more bizarre by the week. Towey was taken off after Antrim got an unanswered 1-4 at the start of the second half. The mgmt reacted to Antrim's good start to the second half. The mgmt and team should be commended for turning things around after the poor decisions and performances in the first 3 games. However it could have been a lot better if we adapted to the rules from game 1 rather then game 4.

Anto (Sligo) - Posts: 376 - 18/03/2025 11:38:13    2597009

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Replying To Anto:  "I'm not a fan of the Management team either however your reason for criticising them are getting more bizarre by the week. Towey was taken off after Antrim got an unanswered 1-4 at the start of the second half. The mgmt reacted to Antrim's good start to the second half. The mgmt and team should be commended for turning things around after the poor decisions and performances in the first 3 games. However it could have been a lot better if we adapted to the rules from game 1 rather then game 4."
I pointed it out a few ago, that Luke Towey going forward is very good but defensively he is not great

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2052 - 18/03/2025 12:39:02    2597034

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Replying To eoinog:  "I pointed it out a few ago, that Luke Towey going forward is very good but defensively he is not great"
I didn't go to the game so can only speak for the one person I spoke to who did. He thought subs were needed and done well to wrestle back a bit of control.
Hasn't been a wonderful year but starting to build momentum. A return to division four would be a hammer blow to this group so terrific to pick up two points on the road.

johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 151 - 18/03/2025 13:03:07    2597048

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Replying To johncreilly:  "I didn't go to the game so can only speak for the one person I spoke to who did. He thought subs were needed and done well to wrestle back a bit of control.
Hasn't been a wonderful year but starting to build momentum. A return to division four would be a hammer blow to this group so terrific to pick up two points on the road."
Yes the subs worked. They didn't work against Fermanagh but that's always the risk. Players love the new game. Managers in general don't because the tactics that were in place over the last few years are now gone out the window. Westmeath scored 28 points and still lost, other teams got over 20 points with the same results. Under the old blanket defence and double sweepers, defenders didn't really get caught out but now it's so different. Some of our better defenders were lost for the first few games, they were never exposed to one v one before. I can see a return for the diminutive, speedy forward again. Under the old rules there was no place for him. The two teams that got promoted last year from Div 3 are finding life very tough. Westmeath have lost all 6 games and Down will probably join them again in Div 3 next year. At the moment we are a long way off a Div 2 team

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2052 - 18/03/2025 16:06:48    2597095

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I think I was nit picking and too harsh too on Management, fair enough. I feel mainly positive about the seniors than I did a few weeks ago and its important to get that across. Fair play to all involved for turning it around.

This team has shown immense mental toughness, to finish the game against Fermanagh like we did and then beat Clare is admirable. To put in the performance in the 1st half against Antrim and score 1-11 is seriously impressive given the importance of the game and for me to wrestle back momentum second half and close out the game all good signs and management do deserve credit. The wheels easily could have came off after the start. The Leitrim situation is strange, so I am pretty sure they'll be out to prove a point but we are a good team, no question and we should have too much for them. They did run Offaly fairly close but I am not sure if they'll have any u20s and we are at home and playing well. I'd expect a strong finish to the league and that will set us up nicely for the summer.

I think the other main positive for me is the trend of the team, each year we seem to start badly we improve drastically as the year goes on so I'd expect the same this year as it is turning out that way so we should keep pushing.

The momentum swings are happening in a lot of games so just seems to be part of the new rules with the lack of control tactically.

I still wish we would have figured out the start of the year better with the new rules and hopefully we can next year but that's for another day but we are probably not quite ready for Div2 yet as Eoinog says.

I seen Keelan Harte and Sean Taylor made the club team of the year, congrats to both, well deserved. Not sure how they couldn't fit Murphy in there somewhere as I would have. Disappointed Luke Marren didn't make the sigerson team of the year as I felt he would have deserved to.

The Connacht u20 starts tonight with Sligo getting a bye, we play Roscommon away next week.

Our minors are playing Roscommon away this Friday. All the best to players and management.

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1808 - 19/03/2025 15:25:49    2597293

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Replying To eoinog:  "Yes the subs worked. They didn't work against Fermanagh but that's always the risk. Players love the new game. Managers in general don't because the tactics that were in place over the last few years are now gone out the window. Westmeath scored 28 points and still lost, other teams got over 20 points with the same results. Under the old blanket defence and double sweepers, defenders didn't really get caught out but now it's so different. Some of our better defenders were lost for the first few games, they were never exposed to one v one before. I can see a return for the diminutive, speedy forward again. Under the old rules there was no place for him. The two teams that got promoted last year from Div 3 are finding life very tough. Westmeath have lost all 6 games and Down will probably join them again in Div 3 next year. At the moment we are a long way off a Div 2 team"
I'd agree. I don't think we are.
For the record, this isn't giving McEntee an easy out. I was disappointed with our approach early doors and while I think we will look back at his tenure with positivity - taking us from a settled divsion four side to a settled division three one - I do think it's his last year in the job and it might be time to freshen it up for next year.
Saying that, I don't think we are as good as people think and the quality isn't there. Murphy at his age is still our best player. I actually don't feel we have the quality to mix it with division two teams - yet.

johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 151 - 19/03/2025 15:31:02    2597296

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Replying To johncreilly:  "I'd agree. I don't think we are.
For the record, this isn't giving McEntee an easy out. I was disappointed with our approach early doors and while I think we will look back at his tenure with positivity - taking us from a settled divsion four side to a settled division three one - I do think it's his last year in the job and it might be time to freshen it up for next year.
Saying that, I don't think we are as good as people think and the quality isn't there. Murphy at his age is still our best player. I actually don't feel we have the quality to mix it with division two teams - yet."
McEntee has another year left but as you say I am not sure if he will take it up. I agree we are not quite ready for Div2 but we were never a Div4 team either with the standard of players and we stayed there for a year too long imo. I can understand why some would look back on McEntees tenure with positivity but I can also understand those that won't. Hopefully with the few wins, more support will turn up to support the seniors and lets see how the rest of this year plays out.

Does the lack of breakthroughs into the senior team by our underage players concern anyone?

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1808 - 19/03/2025 16:23:57    2597306

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Just watched the Mayo v Roscommon u20 match, it was live on youtube. Very impressive high paced match. Mayo looked very good but left many scores behind them. Roscommon were clinical but have some fine players. Both will be formidable. Mayo deservedly won 1-15 to 13.

Galway beat Leitrim 1-21 to 1-10.

I remember these teams at minor, we were the 3rd best team after beating Roscommon well in Hyde. Galway and Mayo were very strong and contested the AI if I remember correctly. The new rules will suit both teams.

Any idea of how Sligo u20s are fixed? Eli Rooney, Ronan Niland, Dillon Walsh, Oisin Conlon, all underage...

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1808 - 19/03/2025 20:35:41    2597362

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Replying To Sligonian:  "Just watched the Mayo v Roscommon u20 match, it was live on youtube. Very impressive high paced match. Mayo looked very good but left many scores behind them. Roscommon were clinical but have some fine players. Both will be formidable. Mayo deservedly won 1-15 to 13.

Galway beat Leitrim 1-21 to 1-10.

I remember these teams at minor, we were the 3rd best team after beating Roscommon well in Hyde. Galway and Mayo were very strong and contested the AI if I remember correctly. The new rules will suit both teams.

Any idea of how Sligo u20s are fixed? Eli Rooney, Ronan Niland, Dillon Walsh, Oisin Conlon, all underage..."
Name dropping again, with loads of errors.
Do you ever learn? I won't bother correcting you

Taypot (Sligo) - Posts: 103 - 19/03/2025 22:57:49    2597396

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Replying To Sligonian:  "McEntee has another year left but as you say I am not sure if he will take it up. I agree we are not quite ready for Div2 but we were never a Div4 team either with the standard of players and we stayed there for a year too long imo. I can understand why some would look back on McEntees tenure with positivity but I can also understand those that won't. Hopefully with the few wins, more support will turn up to support the seniors and lets see how the rest of this year plays out.

Does the lack of breakthroughs into the senior team by our underage players concern anyone?"
I really can't see that he will. A good run in the tailteann again and he would cement a decent legacy of a man who took one of the worst teams in the country and made them competitive again, no doubt about that.
If you look back to Paul Taylor's last few games and the lineups, and the lineup the last day, there certainly has been breakthroughs into the team and panel. However, I'd agree that maybe we expected a little more from those coming through. I've been banging this drum for some time, the U20 is a long step back from Senior national league football. A poster once stated on this forum that the 2023 U20 side could compete in division four. Safe to say today, that was quite a silly statement.
Again, this is not me stating that these lads are or are not good enough. Football at that level is such a huge commitment and jump is substantial, some won't be good enough, some won't want to or won't be able to with their professional lives as the commitment is so great, and some will and hopefully, be wonderful players for Sligo. I'm still very hopeful that we can become a team who plays in the top half of this country, I've just always thought it would take time than yourself and a few others. Our ambitions would be of a similar nature, I just think you need time and a little bit of luck to get there.
What I would say is I won't disrespect the current management group by naming names, but the next appointment into our dugout and his backroom team, will be absolutely huge again. While you don't have to love McEntee, we've seen this week plenty of instances of much much worse choices. I'm happy we've the team we have compared to a lot of them but yes, I'll admit, I think the end of 2025 might be the time to freshen it up.

johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 151 - 20/03/2025 08:29:20    2597408

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Replying To johncreilly:  "I really can't see that he will. A good run in the tailteann again and he would cement a decent legacy of a man who took one of the worst teams in the country and made them competitive again, no doubt about that.
If you look back to Paul Taylor's last few games and the lineups, and the lineup the last day, there certainly has been breakthroughs into the team and panel. However, I'd agree that maybe we expected a little more from those coming through. I've been banging this drum for some time, the U20 is a long step back from Senior national league football. A poster once stated on this forum that the 2023 U20 side could compete in division four. Safe to say today, that was quite a silly statement.
Again, this is not me stating that these lads are or are not good enough. Football at that level is such a huge commitment and jump is substantial, some won't be good enough, some won't want to or won't be able to with their professional lives as the commitment is so great, and some will and hopefully, be wonderful players for Sligo. I'm still very hopeful that we can become a team who plays in the top half of this country, I've just always thought it would take time than yourself and a few others. Our ambitions would be of a similar nature, I just think you need time and a little bit of luck to get there.
What I would say is I won't disrespect the current management group by naming names, but the next appointment into our dugout and his backroom team, will be absolutely huge again. While you don't have to love McEntee, we've seen this week plenty of instances of much much worse choices. I'm happy we've the team we have compared to a lot of them but yes, I'll admit, I think the end of 2025 might be the time to freshen it up."
Great post and well said. We will be lucky to come out of Castlebar with a win in April, would not rule it out , but difficult to see it, especially with the Mayo have been playing the last few weeks. It is very difficult to mention the previous manager to the current on - no comparison.
I think it is so important to get a run in the Tailteann cup, 2024 brought a sense of pride back to the county last year, especially with the performance against Galway.
I would also strongly agree that a new change of faces is required in the county and to prove that we are not the same poster (haha) , I would not completely agree on Under 20's making the step up. Yes, it is a different level but we don't seem to try to promote lads.
If there was an under 22 game against a current Sligo team - I know few lads inured but they would give them a right good game of it. (CS) - Current seniors. Look at some of the options, scary.

1. Kyle Davey / Ethan Carden
2. Ross Chambers / Shane Molloy
3. Luke Casserly (CS)
4. Dylan McLoughlin (CS) / Conor Johnson (CS)
5. Dylan Walsh (Harps) (CS)
6. Jack Lavin (CS)
7. Rossa Sloyan (CS)
8. Joe Keaney
9. Canice Mulligan (CS)
10. Eoghan Smith (CS) /Kaelem Hunt
11. Ronan Niland / James Donlon
12. Ross Doherty (CS) / Gavin Duffy
13. Oisin Flynn (CS) / Luke Marren
14. Dara O'Boyle (CS)/ Jack Davitt
15. Lee Deignan (CS) / Josh Flynn

RealSouthSligo (Sligo) - Posts: 115 - 20/03/2025 12:41:56    2597460

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I see no point in talking about a manager in the month of March. In general the players are happy. Anyone not getting game time aren't so happy but that's what you would expect. They all talk positively about the complete package that goes on behind the scenes and not just the mgt. I'm disappointed that the younger lads haven't pushed on like we had hoped. A lot of them got game time in the first three games and we lost each game. Was it just a coincidence that when the older more experienced players returned that our fortune changed. I still believe those lads are good enough but with the exception of Canice they need to up the ante. To remain in Div 3 is great because everything's else associated with the team is Div 4. The pitch, Scarden, club fixtures (last year) and Pr communications is really poor. Sligo Facebook page is full of pictures of the game last week but of course they were all taken by Antrim. A chain is only as strong as it's weakest link.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2052 - 20/03/2025 15:43:28    2597506

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Replying To RealSouthSligo:  "Great post and well said. We will be lucky to come out of Castlebar with a win in April, would not rule it out , but difficult to see it, especially with the Mayo have been playing the last few weeks. It is very difficult to mention the previous manager to the current on - no comparison.
I think it is so important to get a run in the Tailteann cup, 2024 brought a sense of pride back to the county last year, especially with the performance against Galway.
I would also strongly agree that a new change of faces is required in the county and to prove that we are not the same poster (haha) , I would not completely agree on Under 20's making the step up. Yes, it is a different level but we don't seem to try to promote lads.
If there was an under 22 game against a current Sligo team - I know few lads inured but they would give them a right good game of it. (CS) - Current seniors. Look at some of the options, scary.

1. Kyle Davey / Ethan Carden
2. Ross Chambers / Shane Molloy
3. Luke Casserly (CS)
4. Dylan McLoughlin (CS) / Conor Johnson (CS)
5. Dylan Walsh (Harps) (CS)
6. Jack Lavin (CS)
7. Rossa Sloyan (CS)
8. Joe Keaney
9. Canice Mulligan (CS)
10. Eoghan Smith (CS) /Kaelem Hunt
11. Ronan Niland / James Donlon
12. Ross Doherty (CS) / Gavin Duffy
13. Oisin Flynn (CS) / Luke Marren
14. Dara O'Boyle (CS)/ Jack Davitt
15. Lee Deignan (CS) / Josh Flynn"
Great post RSS,

That list is startling, I would say only 4 were given a proper chance so far over a 2/3 year period, Smith, Lavin, Canice and Doherty. Are they remaining 20+ never going to get much of a chance at gametime. My issue is without gametime you will regress and there is a lot of talent in there with higher ceilings going to go to waste. Most aren't even making the squad and of course injuries plays a factor. It concerns me but also that it is so easily accepted by the Sligo public.

I read Kildare have debuted 13 players from the u20 AI winning squad this year alone.

I kinda of agree with Eoinog on the manager debate tbh. Probably best to wait to deep dive until the end of year.

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1808 - 20/03/2025 18:19:45    2597538

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Replying To Sligonian:  "Great post RSS,

That list is startling, I would say only 4 were given a proper chance so far over a 2/3 year period, Smith, Lavin, Canice and Doherty. Are they remaining 20+ never going to get much of a chance at gametime. My issue is without gametime you will regress and there is a lot of talent in there with higher ceilings going to go to waste. Most aren't even making the squad and of course injuries plays a factor. It concerns me but also that it is so easily accepted by the Sligo public.

I read Kildare have debuted 13 players from the u20 AI winning squad this year alone.

I kinda of agree with Eoinog on the manager debate tbh. Probably best to wait to deep dive until the end of year."
Kildare haven't exactly kicked on have they. They've stuttered of late. I would see that RSS post as a positive, look at the amount of them 20s that are in the Co squad being exposed to the level required. Hopefully they can kick on in the next 18 months and when they get their opportunity they grab it. You complain they are never given a chance. They are being given a chance, every Tuesday and Thursday night to prove themselves. Hopefully they are making strides and can continue to improve.

BreakingBall123 (Sligo) - Posts: 101 - 21/03/2025 06:38:32    2597578

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Replying To Sligonian:  "Great post RSS,

That list is startling, I would say only 4 were given a proper chance so far over a 2/3 year period, Smith, Lavin, Canice and Doherty. Are they remaining 20+ never going to get much of a chance at gametime. My issue is without gametime you will regress and there is a lot of talent in there with higher ceilings going to go to waste. Most aren't even making the squad and of course injuries plays a factor. It concerns me but also that it is so easily accepted by the Sligo public.

I read Kildare have debuted 13 players from the u20 AI winning squad this year alone.

I kinda of agree with Eoinog on the manager debate tbh. Probably best to wait to deep dive until the end of year."
Is that last sentence tongue in cheek?

johncreilly (Sligo) - Posts: 151 - 21/03/2025 09:02:41    2597587

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