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Article Date: 02/06/2009
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Friends of Sligo Football
Hard luck to Summerhill College 1st year team, who were defeated in the Connaught Colleges final recently depriving that College of a unique treble having already won the double (junior and Juvenile titles).
Continuing our review and salute to Sligo great footballers and as we are now in June and approaching our Connaught Championship match it is appropriate to acknowledge the feats of two famous Sligo footballers, Paul Durcan and Dessie Sloyane, both now playing key roles as part of the Management team. We paid tribute to the other member of this triumvirate (Paul Taylor)last December.
Paul Durcan made his debut for Sligo against Louth on 25th November 1990 and made 87 League appearances up to his last League game against Limerick on 21st March 2004 scoring 16 points. In the championship he made his debut against Leitrim on 9th June 1991 and played 32 championship games for Sligo up to his last game against Clare 12th June 2004. He scored 1 goal and 5 points in the championship
When one looks back at Paul Durcan’s career we must remember the early part was a bleak time for Sligo Football. He took on the mantle around midfield vacated by the great Martin McCarrick and every time he put on a Sligo or Curry jersey Paul always gave 100%.He and Eamonn O’Hara formed one of the best midfield partnerships in the country and his real worth was only appreciated when he retired. Some great moments come to mind his wonderful performance against then All Ireland Champions Kerry in Tralee, which gave Sligo an historic victory, his point in Croke Park against Tyrone when he followed it up by winning the kick out resulting from that score, his goal against Galway (then All Ireland champions) in the Connaught Championship in Markievicz.
As well as being a great player for Sligo Paul managed Sligo and went close to Sligo winning a senior trophy for the first time ever in Croke Park against Clare in 2004. He has been a selector with 2 different managers and has been a great coach, who, no doubt, has been responsible for the development of Sligo Footballers in recent years.
Dessie Sloyane began his career against Limerick on 13th October 1996 and played 57 league games scoring15 goals and 118 points with his last League game against Wicklow on 9th April 2006. He made his Championship debut on 22 June 1997 and played 29 championship games for Sligo scoring 3 goals and 80 points so with a combined score of 252 points in 86 appearances for Sligo he is among the top score 3 scorers of all time in Sligo football. We recall his 2 goals against Meath in October 1999, his incredible 8 points from all angles on that historic day against Kildare in Croke Park on 7th July 2001 and his goal and 3 points against Tyrone the following year in Croke Park on another memorable day. In the following 2 games against Armagh he scored 6 points and 8 points and a goal and 7 points against Meath on 4th April 2004. One wonders what might have been achieved if Dessie and Paul Taylor had been luckier with injuries as they were 2 of the greatest forwards ever and with more time together they could have ensured greater success for Sligo.
To Paul and Dessie we salute you this week what a pity you were not there in the 2007 for that Connaught Championship success- you certainly deserved it but we are grateful for you immense contributions to Sligo football.
Best of luck to Sligo County Board with their initiative in launching Club Sligo. They deserve support. Meeting Co Board Financial expenses is not easy but it has to be done and we can’t just leave it all to other people.
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