As Sligo prepare for the new season there has been some changes at the top table following convention which saw our well known President John Higgins surprisingly stepping down from his role and the position remains vacant.

Tommy Kilcoyne also stepped down after the five year ruling ensuring change the county board which meant Sligo needed a new delegate for Central council John Murphy was lucky enough to win his election which means he will be responsible for attending central council in 2015 . 

Peter Greene also joins the County Board after Joe Queenan who had been treasurer for the past three years and we wish him well .   

It was also great 2014 with the financially for Sligo which we saw Centre of excellence finally getting football played on it with the u17 bliz taking place last November .

Sligo 's Hurlers and Footballers start there 2015 campaign's this weekend 

On Saturday Sligo take on GMIT in the first ever FBD hurling league in Connacht GAA Centre at 2pm .

While on Sunday Niall Carew's Sligo's team take on Kevin Walsh's Galway at 2pm Enniscrone in the opening round of the FBD league

Sligo GAA Update

Senior Team Manager Appointment: On behalf of the Sligo County Board we would like to welcome Pat Flanagan from Clara of County Offaly as the new Senior Team Manager for the coming year 2014 after being ratified at an executive and county board meeting two weeks ago.  Pat is already actively in meeting all the players training sessions have taken place.

Convention Night: Our County Board Convention is fast approaches us again this coming Thursday night. With many positions up for grabs the main talking point will be the position of Chairman as current Chairman Cyril Feehily faces a challenge from Brendan Leonard of Tourlestrane and Joe Taaffe of St. Michaels. Vice Chairman Richard Brennan also faces a challenge from John Leydon of Ballysadare.  New incoming Secretary Gerry O’Connor will be returned unopposed as will Treasurer Joe Queenan. New comers to the County Board for 2013 Development Officer John McPartland and Coaching Officer Padraig Clancy will also be returned unopposed.  The third new member to the County Board for 2013, PRO Maurice Sweeney will not be seeking re-election due to personal and family reason.  There are three names nominated for this vacancy with Tommy Clarke of Calry/St. Josephs, Gavin Cawley of St. Mary’s and Chairman Cyril Feehily of Curry.  The positions of Connacht Council Delegates will also see a contest for two positions with three names in the hat, Richard Brennan and Padraig Duffy and a new nomination of John Niland of Curry in the mix!  Assistant Secretary Bernadine McGauran of Calry/St. Josephs will face a challenge from John Niland of Curry. Assistant Treasurer Michael Leonard will also face a contest from Eddie McHale of Calry/St.Josephs. The vacancy of Irish and Cultural Officer will see a new member to the executive in Keith Henry from Bunninadden as he is the only nomination in for the vacancy. Children’s Officer which is appointed by the executive will also see new face as Martin Cannon has stepped down. The two Connacht Council delegates Richard Brennan and Padraig Duffy also face a challenge with John Niland also going for one of these vacancies. Nominations for Representatives for Connacht Convention 2014 include, Chairman Cyril Feehliy, Secretary Gerry O’Connor, Sligo G.A.A.  Administrator Eamonn McMunn, Seamus Cawley Shamrock Gaels county board delegate and Eamonn Mullen Coolera/Strandhill secretary. Nominations for Representatives to Annual Congress 2014 include, Chairman Cyril Feehliy, Secretary Gerry O’Connor, Administrator Eamonn McMunn, Padraig Duffy and Cathal Martyn.

U-20B Championship Final: Congratulations to Castleconnor who won the U-20B Football Final last Sunday by defeating St. Pats in the last club final of the year which was played in Easkey. Final Score: Castleconnor 3-6 to St.Pats 1-11.

U-21 Trials: Trials for the Sligo U21 Team for 2014 will take place on Saturday 14th & 21st December.

Festive Season: On behalf of the out-going County Board we would like to wish all clubs and their members a very enjoyable festive season and hope the coming year 2014 will bring success to your club and families.

Sligo GAA Update 11^th November

Alcohol Awareness Seminar:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank St. Mary’s club for organising the Alcohol Awareness Seminar in the Sligo Park two weeks ago.

Sligo Champion “All Star Awards”

The 3^rd Annual Awards Banquet of Sligo Champion “All Star Awards” in association with AIB will be held on Friday 15^th of November in the Radisson Hotel.

Calry/St. Josephs in Connacht GAA Junior Hurling Championship Final

Congratulations to Calry/St. Josephs who defeated Coolera/Strandhill to win the Sligo Hurling Championship and last week went onto convincingly defeated Glencar/ Manorhamilton in the Connacht Clubs Semi-Final. We wish them the very best of luck in the Connacht GAA Junior Hurling Final on Saturday 16^th November.

Sligo Clubs in Senior & Intermediate Football Connacht

Hard luck to Tourlestrane who lost to the current All-Ireland Club Champions St. Brigid’s of Roscommon at the quarter final stage. Hard luck also to Drumcliffe/Rosses Point, who lost by the narrowest of margins last week to Kiltane of Mayo at the Connacht Intermediate Semi-Final stage.

Niall Donoghue Galway Hurler:

On behalf of the Sligo GAA County Board I extended our deepest sympathies through an e-mail to the Galway County Board and the Donoghue family on their tragic loss of a fine hurler! The Secretary of the Galway County Board responded with gratitude and appreciation of the Sligo GAA’s sympathies.

Ard-Chomhairle Report for November

National Hurling League:  No decision was taken until the next meeting in mid-November. In the meantime two further proposals have been forwarded to counties for their consideration.  It was also agreed that a meeting would take place with counties participating in divisions other than Division 1 to try to establish a consensus on the most appropriate league structure for these counties. Decisions will be taken at the November 16th meeting of Ard-Chomhairle.

Referees:  Football referees must complete a course on the revised football playing rules before they are eligible for appointment to referee at any level in 2014. Referees may attend the course in their own county, in a neighbouring county or online through the GAA e-learning system.

Rates on Croke Park:  These annual rates have recently been increased form €600K to €2.1 million, an increase of 350%. They will be appealed. Anybody who has any influence with politicians are asked to make representations to them on this matter.

All-Ireland Senior Final Replays:  It was agreed that in future these will be played on Saturdays.

Medical Bags for County Grounds: Counties are asked to order these which cost about€3K. It was agreed that Croke Park will pay for them.

Public Clock/Hooter: These are to be introduced for all Senior Inter-county Championship matches in both Hurling and Football. A number of challenges remain to be sorted out e.g. budgets, incidental delays, playing time, match officials, etc.

Managers Charters Rule 3.21 (xiii), Players Charter Rule 3.20 (c):  Revised versions were approved. Funding will be withheld from counties until these are in place.

One Club Model:  Ard-Chomhairle gave permission for negotiations to commence with An Cumann Camogaiochta and Cumann Peil Gaeil na mBan with a view to the establishment of structures that will facilitate the promotion and control of all Gaelic Games within one organisation.

National Club Draw:  This is going ahead. Tickets will be available to clubs shortly.

Coaching Officer Monthly Report

Padraig Clancy thanked Hurling Promotions Officer Benny Kenny for organising the presentations to our u/age hurlers in the Radisson Hotel on the Monday of the October Bank Holiday weekend with the coveted Liam McCarthy Cup in attendance with Conor Cooney.

A very large crowed was in attendance. Our secondry schools teams are competing very well in all competitions. Congratulations to Coola School on the opening of their new facilities.  Our U-14’s development squad finished off their year, defeating both Donegal and Monaghan last weekend. They are now personal fitness programmes for the winter. Well done to all the panel and their Management Team. We had over 50 U-13’s on a two day camp during the Halloween break all the players enjoyed it and must be complemented on their levels of skills indeed their clubs must take a lot of credit for their work in coaching these fine young players.

County Board News

A Busy weekend in Markievicz Park with two double header finals up for grabs!

On Saturday last the Minor B Championship Final & Intermediate Championship Finals took place. Congratulations to St. Michaels who defeated St. Patricks in the Minor B Final on a score line of 3-11 to 16pts.

This game was followed by a local North Division derby in the Kennedys Intermediate Championship Final between Calry/St. Josephs and Drumcliffe/Rosses Point! Drumcliffe/Rosses Point eventually got over the final hurdle after 4 years in the trying to defeat Calry/St. Josephs in this year’s Kennedys Intermediate Championship Final by 2points. Final Score 1-8 to 1-6.

On Sunday, it was another eventful and busy day in Markievicz Park as the Minor A2 title and the Belfry Senior championship was up for grabs. In the Minor A2 Final Castleconnor took on Coolaney/Mullinabreena. The west division side Castleconnor took the spoils as they defeated Coolaney/Mullinabreena on a score line of 1-18 to 1-9.

The Minor game was followed by an eagerly awaited clash in the Belfry Senior Football Championship with two of the South Division big guns, with Tubbercurry leading the way in the Senior Championship Roll of Honour titles with 19 and hoping to make it 20 after Sunday since their last victory in 1991 and a Tourlestrane side very successful in recent years last winning the Senior Championship in 2011 who are in joint second place in the roll of honour with St. Mary’s on 10 Senior Championship titles. Tourlestrane would be hoping to take the second place outright in the roll of honour after Sunday’s game. The day ended in triumph for Tourlestrane with a three point victory on a score line of 13 points to 10 points.

It was also a busy day off the field of play in the Markievicz Park as there were many tributes being honoured. The very successful Ballisodare/ Collooney & Ballisodare/St. Patricks team of the 1960’s who won the Four in a Row County Senior Championships from 1960 to 1963 were honoured between the minor & senior Final. Also, Honoured on the day were three very successful Handball winners in Aoife Quinn, Gerry Coleman & Paddy Walsh who were honoured in front of the Main Stand at half time during the Senior Championship final.

The County Development Draw also took place at half time, Castleconnor GAA Club were the very lucky winners of the 1^st & 2^nd prizes winning the 1^st prize of €1,000 euro and €500 with the five others winning €100euro each, Patrick Murphy, John Reilly, Fintan Feeney, Pat Gaughan & Aileen Rouse. Congratulations to all winners. The County Board would like to thank all clubs for their efforts & hard work in selling & promoting of the county board development draw!