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We draw the curtains on the seniors for 2026. It was really poor. We started with loads of promise, new mgt team, loads of new faces and after our first game which was really encouraging even though it finished in defeat things started to go south. We were lucky to retain Div 3 which will be a great place to start in 2027. Brian Flanagan won 2 Leinster titles and an U.20 All Ireland (against us) and now the Kildare crowd are getting chirpy because they are back to Div 3 this year. Eaten bread is soon forgotten. The question we need an answer to really is " Under this mgt can we recover from the horror's of 2026". If the answer is yes then we stick with them. If the answer is no then we will probably be in Div 4 and our confidence really shot next year. There's some good players playing really well in the club league. I don't know why they are not involved with the county. We have a few to come back from injury and you would hope there are a few of the U.20 that should be pushing for places also.
We had a lot of players this year that are not at the standard required and they never will. It's not their fault. I was in favour of this mgt stepping down a few weeks ago but the devil you know is better than the........
We are not a good catch for any one at the moment only some journey man looking to put a decent CV together for further down the line.
Maybe we need to examine what we have in place at the moment and work on that.

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2486 - 16/06/2026 22:07:20    2680252

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Replying To eoinog:  "We draw the curtains on the seniors for 2026. It was really poor. We started with loads of promise, new mgt team, loads of new faces and after our first game which was really encouraging even though it finished in defeat things started to go south. We were lucky to retain Div 3 which will be a great place to start in 2027. Brian Flanagan won 2 Leinster titles and an U.20 All Ireland (against us) and now the Kildare crowd are getting chirpy because they are back to Div 3 this year. Eaten bread is soon forgotten. The question we need an answer to really is " Under this mgt can we recover from the horror's of 2026". If the answer is yes then we stick with them. If the answer is no then we will probably be in Div 4 and our confidence really shot next year. There's some good players playing really well in the club league. I don't know why they are not involved with the county. We have a few to come back from injury and you would hope there are a few of the U.20 that should be pushing for places also.
We had a lot of players this year that are not at the standard required and they never will. It's not their fault. I was in favour of this mgt stepping down a few weeks ago but the devil you know is better than the........
We are not a good catch for any one at the moment only some journey man looking to put a decent CV together for further down the line.
Maybe we need to examine what we have in place at the moment and work on that."
What players are playing well in Club League? Hopefully, there are a few as we need players and don't think the answer is the under. Walsh and O'Mahony were brought to seniors, and Rooney will be there next year when recovered from his operation. Cannot see many more players from that squad making the step up.

Last Saturday was one of my lowest days following Sligo GAA, I could not even look at this Forum until today. I was very angry leaving Enniskillen and thankfully I was not the only one.
I take the point that we were missing a lot of players with injury but any player that puts on that jersey must show some desire.

Fair point that we are missing some physical players on this team but anyone that thinks them going into a gym for 5 months will solve the problem is away with the birds. This defeat was not a shock as we have all seen the performances this year - it was well below par. Our first game v Westmeath had us all excited.

Interesting stats, 8 of the Westmeath team that beat us in the league was on the field for Croke Park in winning Leinster.
12 of the Sligo team that started first league played last Sat, Michael Lavin (Sub v Westmeath) , Gavin Gorman, Eddie McGuinness.

For me I will leave you on a few points and not all management fault but unfortunately, they are always in the hotseat.

1. No Game plan or tactically poor (Management)
2. Seem to still be playing game under old rules (Management)
3. Too many hamstring or small injuries (S&C which is management)
4. No desire (Players)

I am not trying to knock anyone, and people might be annoyed with my last point, but I was at 90% of games this year and we were missing that. There have been players wearing that jersey than would not have the standard of some of current group but trust me - they gave it 110%.

Anyways, hopefully we find a few more players from club championship for next year and rebuild. We cannot go any lower to where we are at the moment.

RealSouthSligo (Sligo) - Posts: 150 - 17/06/2026 11:29:54    2680279

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Replying To RealSouthSligo:  "What players are playing well in Club League? Hopefully, there are a few as we need players and don't think the answer is the under. Walsh and O'Mahony were brought to seniors, and Rooney will be there next year when recovered from his operation. Cannot see many more players from that squad making the step up.

Last Saturday was one of my lowest days following Sligo GAA, I could not even look at this Forum until today. I was very angry leaving Enniskillen and thankfully I was not the only one.
I take the point that we were missing a lot of players with injury but any player that puts on that jersey must show some desire.

Fair point that we are missing some physical players on this team but anyone that thinks them going into a gym for 5 months will solve the problem is away with the birds. This defeat was not a shock as we have all seen the performances this year - it was well below par. Our first game v Westmeath had us all excited.

Interesting stats, 8 of the Westmeath team that beat us in the league was on the field for Croke Park in winning Leinster.
12 of the Sligo team that started first league played last Sat, Michael Lavin (Sub v Westmeath) , Gavin Gorman, Eddie McGuinness.

For me I will leave you on a few points and not all management fault but unfortunately, they are always in the hotseat.

1. No Game plan or tactically poor (Management)
2. Seem to still be playing game under old rules (Management)
3. Too many hamstring or small injuries (S&C which is management)
4. No desire (Players)

I am not trying to knock anyone, and people might be annoyed with my last point, but I was at 90% of games this year and we were missing that. There have been players wearing that jersey than would not have the standard of some of current group but trust me - they gave it 110%.

Anyways, hopefully we find a few more players from club championship for next year and rebuild. We cannot go any lower to where we are at the moment."
Couldn't agree with you more RealSouth and your diagnosis of the 4 key areas are spot on. I had a few posts since Saturday but they didn't make it. I do feel though that the team and the supporters will not buy into the same package that is there presently without some sort of change in management. It may not be a full clear out but I don't think you can go back next year without some new personnel involved. It was a very sorry state of affairs Saturday. I thought we couldn't be much worse than Leitrim game but how wrong I was. It is a shame for the likes of Murphy if that is how he has to bow out and he has been a great servant to he county with very little rewards out of it. There are other older members of the panel who like him may say no thank you if they don't see some sort of a change.

Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 691 - 17/06/2026 13:23:16    2680309

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I am broadly in agreement with the above posts. I had a few other posts written in the last few days but they never got past the admins, the same admins that are happy to allow the drivel on the Leitrim page. I would be afraid that the feeling is that we searched the county last year and this is what we have. That's not true. There's always lads available, maybe only one or two. I dare'nt name names. If we can pull a few from the U.20 and get commitment plus a few back from injury it would be a great start. We have a few lads in that 26 and can you honestly say that they will go in to the trenches and fight for Sligo football ?

eoinog (Sligo) - Posts: 2486 - 17/06/2026 22:29:08    2680383

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Now that the county scene can be put to bed and hopefully never be repeated again we're left with the club scene.

A few observations at the half way point.
Division 1: Harps in flying form which I expected to happen soon but not perhaps just this year, they will be a serious championship contended in the near future but looking at their remaining fixtures I think they'll be in the league final. Curry started off very well and it'll do their Intermediate hopes no harm at all but I think they'll slip out of the finalist position. Mary's probably the team to make the final. At the other end Tubber are gone I feel and the loser of Ballymote and Tourlestrane will join them...probably Ballymote.

Division 2: Fair play to Cloonacool and Geevagh who with limited enough panels are flying it, but I don't expect them to play each other in a league final, probably only one of them will hold on and I'd tip Geevagh to win the battle of the mountain men and secure the final. Teams from 6th up will start taking points from one another over the coming rounds to make it an interesting finish. Harps and Molaise B teams for the drop. Coolaney won't be too content with some of their results as a senior team, I know they've a few county lads but still expected them in the top 4 at this stage not bottom 4.

Division 3: As expected Calry and Farnan's leading the pack here but of concern must be St Pats paltry 3 points out of 10. Granted they've played all the other first teams at this point but it doesn't bode well for them and their championship status will be in question too.

Division 4: St John's losing to Owenmore Gaels B is a bad sign and while both with be promoted, John's won't need to get too excited about Junior championship unless there's a major improvement.

Sligoman1234 (Sligo) - Posts: 691 - 18/06/2026 10:15:36    2680401

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Hard to not agree with what is said here . The reality is when you look at a county team it should be like a well oiled machine .. I have to say u20 and minor setups had a structure and plans with management who had standards which made them competitive . They fought for each other . It's genuinely so sad to see Sligo at senior level at this low of a state . Systems beat the player and Sligo at senior level have zero . Injuries are one thing put holy god give a team structure and a game plan . Players seen disillusioned on the field . I hope the lads can turn this around .

Onthe50!! (Sligo) - Posts: 7 - 18/06/2026 23:13:11    2680527

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