If we can't beat Wicklow on Sunday at home it's time to hang our hat. Expecting a big performance given how last week went in a game we could have won if we had been disciplined and more driven in attack. Thankfully the motorway half way home reduced the time chewing over the what ifs of the game!

In other news St Michaels I hear are begging to be kept up in Junior A championship. They'll probably get their way given who is involved but not sure it's the right thing to do. If that's the standard they're at then they should earn the right to be in Junior A. Could have another situation like the last year division 1 league where the winner of the final in Junior A would never have been there only for fiddling of rules.

Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 359 - 02/02/2024 20:36:31    2523926

Sligo made very hard work of a very poor Wicklow team today. Conditions were very poor and Sligo controlled most of the possession but poor decision making and wayward shooting let Wicklow back into the game time and time again. I think we can forget about promotion and hope that we avoid relegation.

letsgosligo (Sligo) - Posts: 98 - 04/02/2024 19:33:05    2524321

Anto (Sligo) - Posts: 345 - 04/02/2024 20:06:14    2524342

Points on the board so we are up and running... In general it was a poor performance. We got 2 goals within a minute of each other in the first half and I expected that we would kick on from there. Sadly we didn't . One of the goals was a gift for the Wicklow keeper and still we made hard work of putting it in the net. Late in the second half Cian Lally scored a point that I would put my house on was wide. We won't always be as lucky. Our forwards were very poor. Carrabine improved when he was brought out to the half forward line. I think that's his position going forward. The starting half forward line were completely wiped out of it. No pace and no penetration. Big difference between a great club player and playing for your county. There are a lot of positions up for grabs yet. We were slow enough to protect our D and got punished for it. Next up is away to Limerick who got a bad beating today. Hopefully we can pick up the 2 points

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1658 - 04/02/2024 20:21:31    2524348

There were only 3 positives to take from today - the 2 points plus the new jersey! And maybe the fact that we won playing so poorly is another. But after that, there's not much to say and one would snatch the chance for Div 3 survival if you got it right now!

ShellyGael (Sligo) - Posts: 105 - 04/02/2024 21:07:24    2524363

New jersey is absolute class. Must be easier for players to see quickly

SligoScot (Sligo) - Posts: 24 - 04/02/2024 23:26:21    2524423

Sunday was a very important win, more important than the performance. With O'Brien out for Wicklow it was made easier for us so it obviously disappointing that we struggled.

I have to give the management credit for starting Alan McLoughlin which for me is definitely a benefit to the starting 15. 1-1 is a nice return on his starting debut. Delighted for him.

My main issue with management and most of you have alluded to it, has been their selections and I still see a lot of improvement that still needs to be made here. In fairness they probably are getting close to the best of out of very average players for the most part. But there in lines the problem. They select players with a low ceiling all the time and only for the likes of Carrabine he gets us out of jail. But what if they selected and developed players with high ceilings and progressed the squad. It almost seems a waste of 3 years because this team is not going to win us Connacht any time soon.

The other issue is complete lack of consistency in how they treat players. The main excuse I got last year for the u20s not starting was there lack of physicality and proper county conditioning, they came into the set up way behind I'm told. It was just excuses as then I'd mention Finian Cawley last year hadn't been involved in football set up but went straight in. Alan is this years example of that rule being relaxed but he is older. I don't believe for a second the underage lads are that far off in conditioning, more so in physicality but other counties seem to be integrating those players just fine. Canice made the 26 and Joe didn't last weekend. I presume Lavin was injured. O Boyle and 2 walsh's should be coming on at least. Our timing and selection of subs seems to be very poor from Management.

I would be looking to get more pace in the team and players able to execute the basics under pressure. Hopefully Alan Reilly isn't far away. It would be great to see him have an injury free season.

The biggest warning Sligo can take is from Kildare. I watched Fermanagh beat them on gaago. Fermanagh haven't been competitive at underage for decades and are still a Division 2 team beating a team that won 2 U20 All Irelands in the last 5/6 years, players who are in the mid 20s by now. It shows who is maximizing their potential and not.

Limerick away next who are struggling looks a massive opportunity for us to almost guarantee div3 status but this game they have to win.

Anto- do you know what Gerry McGowan is doing this year?

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1640 - 05/02/2024 22:04:39    2524653

Offtheground45 (Longford) - Posts: 11 - 07/02/2024 16:09:47    2524980

Sligo u20 Fixtures 2024 Round robin

All Wednesday nights
Bye 1st rd
March 27 Sligo v Roscommon
April 3rd Galway V Sligo
April 10th Sligo v Leitrim
April 17th Mayo v Sligo

2 v 3 in semi final, top into final

Sligo Minor Fixtures 2024

All Fridays
April 12th Galway v Sligo
April 19th Sligo v Leitrim
BYE
May 3rd Roscommon v Sligo
May 10th Sligo v Mayo

2 v 3 in semi final, top into final

The expectations would be high around the u20s especially with Eli and Conor Walsh coming into the squad, Eli should help Marren in the inside line. 10 of last years starters in the All Ireland final underage again which is pretty unheard of and most of the subs, so its an Incredibly strong panel.

I saw the minors last year against Leitrim and they drew. Its a strong Leitrim team this year but our lads should be competitive.

All the best to both squads and management.

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1640 - 08/02/2024 15:45:29    2525123

muscles (Sligo) - Posts: 443 - 08/02/2024 17:30:25    2525140

Anto (Sligo) - Posts: 345 - 08/02/2024 17:41:13    2525142

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1640 - 09/02/2024 15:06:02    2525240

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1658 - 10/02/2024 13:45:04    2525315

muscles (Sligo) - Posts: 443 - 10/02/2024 17:37:54    2525340

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1658 - 10/02/2024 19:57:24    2525368

We have a great opportunity to move up the table by beating Limerick tomorrow. I saw the panel that's named but no team seems to publish the correct 26 nowadays so it's best ignored. I would like to see Towey in the half forward line as we need pace there. If he is to get the half back spot back again I'm not sure who would be dropped. We are not playing well. I wonder will Wicklow flourish or regress with their manager banned for 2 games. A loss for them and a win for us plus 3 home games to come for us would leave us in a very strong position after 3 games. Limerick will be tough. They are on a poor run of form and if they don't beat us they are probably relegation candidates. Hopefully we can do the business.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1658 - 17/02/2024 16:19:52    2526498

Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 359 - 17/02/2024 17:49:10    2526516

Good win. 4 games left. 3 at home. Should be safe from relegation now and can look at a push for promotion. With 3 home games it's a possibility especially after seeing Clare beat Offaly today, Antrim staying close to Down for a lot of the game, and Westmeath not shooting the lights out against Wicklow. Plenty opportunity for us and a win next week against Antrim who were eventually well beaten at home would give a massive lift going into the away game versus down and the two home games to follow. We would need to win atleast 3 of the 4 games as well as Clare drop some points along the way but atleast there's something to look towards.

Sligobuck21 (Sligo) - Posts: 114 - 18/02/2024 22:21:02    2526828

I didn't travel to Rathkeale yesterday for the game so all I could do was follow it on WTS. There was no way I would listen to Ocean FM. Therefore I can't comment on the game. The upward trajectory should continue this weekend by beating Antrim in Markievicz Park. Only when that's done can we look at the state of affairs in Div 3 and then hopefully set our sights on getting in in the promotion shake up.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 1658 - 19/02/2024 14:26:32    2526981

By all accounts yesterday we got the win which is the most important part but the performance was a step back from even the Wicklow game I am told. The management will say "we got the job done, what more do you want" but most of us know they are not getting the best out of the available talent.

What is becoming clear to me is the standard of Division 3 is very poor which has surprised me. Limerick have lost a lot of players and have regressed and would probably struggle in Div4, Antrim and Offaly look poor and we have both those at home. Even with all the mistakes by management and how we are playing I expect us to win both those.

Westmeath were blessed against Clare, and we have them at home as well. That could be a straight shootout for promotion and I know that has been our goal. We need to play better and we are capable of that but look lets get to 6pts before we get ahead of ourselves.

Short term outlook I am happy with where we are but long term bigger picture and development of players, selections I still have the same concerns and the learnings aren't there by the powers at be. I doubt McEntee/Keane care too much about that with this likely being their last year hopefully.

Sligonian (Sligo) - Posts: 1640 - 20/02/2024 16:54:28    2527234