Sligo’s U-13 side put up a fine performance in the special invitation Pat Lawler Tournament at the U.L. grounds, Castletroy, on Saturday last. Despite being drawn in a competitive group, Sligo qualified for the quarter finals, following victories over Thomond and the host club’s 2nd squad. They lost narrowly to the group winners, Young Munster, who won last year’s event. Galwegians were their quarter final opponents, and they emerged victorious, following a ‘cliff-hanger’, courtesy of two late, late tries. Well done to the entire squad and their coach, Michael O’Hehir, and hopefully some of our squad will go on to emulate the feats of some of the players who have played in this competition in the past, such as Ronan O’Gara, Peter Stringer, Paul O’Connell, Andrew Trimble and Barry Murphy.
Monthly Archive for September, 2007
Page 2 of 3
Sligo’s 1st team coach, Joe Walsh, coached the Connacht Youths [U-18] side which scored a highly impressive 20-0 victory over Munster at the week-end. Included in the victorious squad were Sligo players, Prop, Richard Henry and wing forward, Rory Kerins, and both reportedly made very big impressions in their province’s clear-cut victory.
The September Monthly Meeting of the Club will be held in Bree’s Bar, Strandhill, on Tuesday next September 11th at 8 pm sharp.
Sligo 46 :: Creggs 3
Despite a fairly evenly contested opening half, after which Sligo led by 15-3, although playing against the wind, Creggs’ challenge disintegrated in the second period, as Sligo went on a scoring spree in this ‘warm-up’ Connacht league game at Hamilton Park on Sunday last. Sligo added five tries without reply in that second period, and Creggs were probably saved from an even more punishing score-line by the fact that referee, Alan Rowe [Ballina] blew the long whistle after only 33 minutes play in the second half. Continue reading ‘Sligo Turn On The Style against Creggs’
On Saturday next, Sligo’s 1st XV play Cavan in a friendly fixture at Hamilton Park [Kick off 2.30p.m.]. For many years Sligo and Cavan had an annual fixture, when they competed for the Elliot Cup. This trophy was presented by former Sligo player, and well known Cavan businessman, Noel Elliot, but the fixture lapsed after many thrilling encounters between the sides. Last season the annual game was reactivated, when Sligo travelled to the Breffni County, and the friendly rivalry between the sides will be again renewed on Sunday. While there will be no Cup at stake on this occasion, it should be a very competitive game. Continue reading ‘Sligo Entertain Cavan’
Director of Rugby in the club, Bernie Kelly, has appointed New Zealand-born, Jamie Livingstone as Club captain for the season and Peter Mullan as vice-captain. Gavin Foley has been given the role of leader of the backs. Bernie is very pleased with the response to training, and with the players’ dedication and commitment, so all indications are positive that the season will be very successful. Certainly, Bernie, coach Joe Walsh and manager, Brendan Leahy, are sparing no effort in ensuring the squad are well prepared.
On Saturday next [kickoff 11 a.m.], Sligo’s U-13 side will represent Connacht in the special invitation UL-Bohemian’s tournament at the U.L. Grounds, Castletroy, Limerick. The tournament commemorates the late Pat Lawler, a former under-age coach in the club, and father of current Munster panellist, Mossie. The leading under-age clubs in the country will be participating, and this is a great opportunity for our young players to compete against the best talent from the other three provinces. The event, which always is held in Thomond Park, is switched to U.L. this year as Thomond is under reconstruction. The coach of the Sligo team is Michael O’Hehir.
An alcohol-free teenage disco will be held in the Clubhouse, Hamilton Park, on Friday,September 28th at 9 pm. Tickets for the event will go on sale early next week. A leading DJ is again being engaged.
Work is ongoing on the Club Yearbook, which is being compiled at present. This year’s publication will be bigger than previous years’ editions, and it is envisaged that it will be available to all players, parents/guardians of under-age players, members and Life Members in early October.
Three Sligo players, Niall Kenneally, Chris Nairn and Aaron Spring were members of the Connacht U-17 side which played in a very prestigious tournament against the top English club sides in Newcastle last week-end. It was a tremendous experience for the Sligo trio, and reportedly all acquitted themselves very well against top class opposition. Unfortunately, Tadgh Power, one of the leading players on the team, had to sit out the games because of an arm injury.
The old order was reversed when Sligo Grammar School played Summerhill College in a friendly game at the Mall on Tuesday last, as Summerhill convincingly came out on top.
With players of the calibre of Rory Kerins, Conor Brady, Aaron Spring, Niall Kenneally, David Bergin and Gary Cawley, Summerhill are capable of challenging for honours in Connacht this season, but Grammar, who were missing Tadgh Power, will be a different proposition when the Cup commences after Christmas. Probably for the first time, there are now two schools in Sligo who will be serious contenders for the Connacht Schools Senior Cup, which is testimony to the excellent coaching work being done in both schools by James Gavin, Jimmy Staunton, Adrian Barrett and Pat Touhy, and by YDO, Gavin Foley, as well as by all the under-age coaches in the club.
Older members of the club will remember with nostalgia, the great Tony O’Sullivan, whose untimely death occurred last week. Tony was capped on 15 occasions for Ireland between 1957 and 1963, as a No.8, when a member of the Galwegians club. In his heyday Tony was a superb player, and was a legendary figure in Galway and Connacht sport, regardless of the code. Many rugby people, in that era in the province, felt that if Tony had played his rugby in either of two other provinces at that time, he would have more than doubled his caps haul. Sympathy is extended to his relatives, clubmates and friends.
There will be a large exodus of members to the World Cup over the next two weeks. Already quite a few are enjoying the delights of the South of France for the games against both Namibia and Georgia. The Georgian team will have at least one supporter in Sligo, as recent recruit to the club, Kakaber Machitidze, played at out-half against Ireland in the 1999 World Cup, and understandably will be supporting his former team-mates. A large group of members are travelling to Paris for the Ireland V France game, and there will be an equally strong representation from the club in Paris for the Ireland V Argentina game. Following Argentina’s famous opening round victory over France, our members will view both games in Paris with some trepidation.
The President, on behalf of the entire membership, extends best wishes for a most successful future to Committee member, John Davey, who opened his state of the art Toyota Garage in Calry on Thursday last. John,a flying winger during Sligo’s AIL days, is one of Sligo RFC’s staunchest members. In addition to being a Committee member, he is a member of the club’s Development Sub-Committee, is Chairman of the Youth Section and is also an accomplished referee. John also serves as coach of the U-14 side. He is a very valued club sponsor, and always finds the time to serve as a disco steward.
There was a very impressive and encouraging turn-out of juvenile and youth players, and their parents/guardians, for registration for the coming season at the Sligo I.T. on Saturday morning last. The entire process was co-ordinated with clockwork efficiency by Registration Secretary in the club, Jonathan Hill, with expert assistance from his wife, Triona, and juvenile coaches, John Pender, Justin Harte, Fergal Hickey, David Murray, and Youth coach, Peter Brady.
Training for Juveniles [u7 - u12] commences at the Sligo I.T. Sports Centre on Saturday next at 10.00 pm [sharp], while training for Youths [u13-u18] will be in Hamilton Park, Strandhill on Saturday at 10.00 pm [sharp].
Please note that members who missed registration can download membership forms from here. These forms with payment and any required supporting documentation can be given to your coach at your next training session.
