Showtime for the Sligo Minors

The Sligo minor team end their eleven week wait for their entry to the championship arena when they meet Leitrim in the Connacht Championship quarter-final at Pairc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday (2pm throw-in).

Just under three months since they last took to the field – their last competitive outing was a memorable final round win over Mayo at Quigabar in early April, when they captured the Connacht Minor League title – manager Aidan Rooney explained that his side are eager to get their campaign off the ground.  

“We’re looking forward to it. It has been a long wait since the end of the league so that’s a distant memory now.

“We had to come down for a little while after the league because we were so far away so training changed a little bit and we played a lot of games so it’s those games that have brought us to where we are in terms of preparation. We’re in good shape, all the lads are happy.”

Hopes are high in the county that this could finally be the year that Sligo end their dire run in the provincial championship, and potentially capture a first Connacht title since 1968. However, Rooney maintains his side are fully focussed on the Leitrim assignment, and argues that it will be a huge task to overturn his native county.

“We’re not looking past Leitrim. There’s no point in having a delusion of grandeur when you don’t have any history of it. The reality is that Sligo need to win this game in Carrick-On-Shannon and that’s our focus. If that transpires then it is Roscommon the following weekend so for either county, whoever comes out on top will have momentum for Roscommon.

“But we’re not looking past Carrick-on-Shannon, I’ve played there long enough myself and I know the passion in the county. They’ll see this as a great opportunity.”

As was evident in the Connacht Minor League, Rooney explained that the province is perhaps the most competitive in the country. Sligo won four of their five league games – Longford also took part – and beat Leitrim by a point in the opening round of the competition in mid-March.

“We’ve been talking to teams in other provinces through challenge matches and the difference with other provinces is that there are marked differences between the teams. Munster, Leinster and Ulster would all have teams that haven’t performed very well this year, but Connacht is different.

“Connacht has five teams that would all feel that they have a chance of winning the Connacht Championship, which is a very, very strong position for the province to be in.

“Normally, Leitrim and Sligo would be seen as weaker links but that isn’t the case this year. Leitrim’s league performances have been very good, they beat Roscommon and they’re very strong.”

Sligo have been dealt a blow in the lead up to the Leitrim tie after midfielder Oisin Gilmartin sustained a fractured jaw which means the St Michael’s club man is no longer available for selection.

However, despite this setback, Rooney is adamant that his side will go to Pairc Seán Mac Diarmada full of endeavour.

“We’ve got no fear whatsoever. If we go timidly to Carrick-on-Shannon we’ll be beaten. If we don’t play well we’ll be beaten, and the guys know that themselves.”

Saturday’s clash has a 2pm throw-in time.