Monthly Archive for January, 2008

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Sligo Win Crucial Points In Mud Bath

Published on January 21, 2008 in Match Reports, News and Senior. Closed

Sligo 19 :: OLBC 6

There is an old cliche that when the going gets tough, the tough get going, and the veracity of this was certainly borne out at Hamilton Park on Sunday last, when in atrocius conditions, Sligo won four priceless Connacht Junior 1 League points after a gruelling encounter. After the week-end’s deluge, the pitch was saturated on Sunday morning, but thanks to the early morning spiking and remedial work of club stalwarts, John Kane, Brian Mullan and Aidan Buckley, it was playable by kick-off time.

Following some indifferent performances prior to Christmas, Sligo found themselves in potential relegation territory, but their response to this possible crisis has been excellent, as their two impressive consecutive victories to date in 2008 is testimony to. For both Sligo and OLBC, this was in effect an eight point game, and Sligo’s only regret will be that they failed to secure a bonus point from the abundant possession they enjoyed throughout the game. Continue reading ‘Sligo Win Crucial Points In Mud Bath’

Heineken Connacht Junior Cup Campaign Commences

Published on January 21, 2008 in Fixtures, News and Senior. Closed

On Sunday next, Sligo travel to Tuam to play the home side in the first round of the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup. Following their consecutive impressive home victories over OLBC [league] and Coleraine [AIB All-Ireland Cup], confidence is high in the Sligo camp at present. Training has been going very well, and the spate of injuries which afflicted so many players before Christmas is at last showing signs of abatement. Continue reading ‘Heineken Connacht Junior Cup Campaign Commences’

AIB All-Ireland Cup Quarter Final On Feb.2nd.

Published on January 21, 2008 in Fixtures, News and Senior. Closed

The floods in North Cork scuppered the AIB All-Ireland game between Kanturk and Crosshavan on January 5th. When the refixed game took place on January 12th in Kanturk, it had to be abandoned in the second half, due to the weather conditions, at which stage Crosshavan were ahead by 5-0. The third episode of this saga will take place next Saturday in Kanturk.

The winners of this game play Sligo in the quarter final in Hamilton Park, and the IRFU have confirmed that this game will take place on Saturday February 2nd.

Eagerly Awaited Senior Schools' Quarter Final

Published on January 21, 2008 in Fixtures, News, Schools and Youth. 1 Comment

The Connacht Senior Schools’ Quarter final between Summerhill College and Sligo Grammar School has been fixed for Wednesday January 30th at 2.30 pm in the Summerhill College grounds.

The two schools met previously in the Senior Cup in the late 1980′s, but this is definitely the first time two Sligo schools have met in the Senior Cup, where both schools will entertain realistic hopes of outright victory in the competition. Grammar’s first round annihilation of Portumna C.S., former Cup winners, in Portumna, has shortened their odds of eventual success, but having watched Summerhill impressively defeat famed Garbally College, Ballinasloe, in a friendly before Christmas, I can vouch that they are a very talented side. This game will be eagerly awaited by all local rugby fans. Continue reading ‘Eagerly Awaited Senior Schools' Quarter Final’

Last Call To Members

Published on January 21, 2008 in Membership and News. Closed

At a recent Committee meeting, glowing tributes were paid to Membership Hon. Secretary, Rory Raftery, whose efficiency and diligence have ensured that the membership of Sligo RFC for this season is at its highest level in the club’s long history. However, a small number of previously stalwart members have overlooked renewing their membership, and have been notified of this omission by Rory in a recent letter. This small group are requested to forward their membership remittance to Rory Raftery, Anvil House, Burton St., Sligo at their earliest convenience.

St. Valentine's Alcohol Free Disco

Published on January 21, 2008 in Disco and Youth. Closed

To coincide with the mid-term break from secondary schools, a special St. Valentine’s alcohol-free teenage disco will be held in the Clubhouse, Hamilton Park on Friday February 15th at 9 pm. This, once again, will be a strictly all-ticket event. Tickets will be available from the usual sellers from February 1st. As usual, the Event Organiser will be Justin Harte, and the Chief Steward will be Niall Draper.

Sligo Players Star For Connacht

Published on January 21, 2008 in Fixtures, Match Reports, News and Youth. Closed

On Saturday last, two Sligo players, Rory Kerins and Aaron Spring starred for the Connacht U-18 Youth team which defeated Ulster by 20-3 in the Interprovincial championship semi-final. Both players are students at Summerhill College, and have outstanding potential. They have come through the juvenile and youth coaching systems in the club. Aaron is still eligible to play at U-16 level, and must rank as one of the best U-16 players ever to represent Sligo. He plays at lock for Connacht, but is equally at home at full-back, where he plays for Summerhill. His father, Andy Spring, was an outstanding central defender for Sligo Rovers in the 1980′s.

Rory is a superb tackler, who plays at open side wing forward for Connacht, but is a live-wire centre for Summerhill College’s senior team. If both players  continue their current rate of progress, they can look forward to very bright futures in the game. A third product of the club, prop forward, Richard Henry, who now plays with UCD, was unavailable for selection due to injury. There was also a Sligo involvement in the side’s coaching staff, as Sligo’s senior coach, Joe Walsh is one of the coaches of the side.

The final of the competition takes place next Saturday in Mullingar RFC, and Rory, Aaron, Richard and Joe are wished well by the President and everyone in the club.

All Under-Age Games Rained off

Published on January 21, 2008 in News. Closed

All under-age games fixed for Hamilton Park last week-end were called off, as the No. 2 pitch was unplayable, and the main pitch was being protected for Sunday’s Connacht Junior 1 league game V OLBC.

This fact graphically illustrates the absolute necessity of expediting the club’s new development, where the synthetic and and based pitches to be constructed will be able to withstand a prolonged wet periods, and all club teams from U-7 upwards will not have to endure the frustration and disappointment caused by the postponement of fixtures on successive week-ends.

Sympathy

Published on January 21, 2008 in News. Closed

The club President, Tom Gilligan, and the Committee, extend deepest sympathy to the Laffey Family, Scarden, on the death of Mrs Mary Laffey, which occurred last week. The late Mrs Laffey was grandmother of outstanding U-16 out-half, Peter Laffey, and was the mother of former Sligo GAA star, Mick Laffey, who won a Connacht senior medal with Sligo in 1975.

Deepest sympathy is also extended to the Gannon family, Rosses Point, and O’Reilly Family, Rosses Point, on their recent bereavements.

U13's Friendly away to Mullingar

Published on January 21, 2008 in Match Reports, News and Youth. Closed

Mullingar 0 :: Sligo 45

Late on Friday last the long anticipated League match against local rivals Ballina was cancelled due to the condition of the Ballina Pitch. In order that the players and coaches were not left with a quiet and restful weekend, the Under 13 support team contacted and arranged a practice march with our good friends down in Mullingar. So on Sunday morning, in very damp conditions, a significant number of the Sligo Players dutifully left home and travelled down to Mullingar, where everyone knew a friendly but competitive meeting would be had. Continue reading ‘U13's Friendly away to Mullingar’

2008 Youth Cup Draw made

Published on January 17, 2008 in Fixtures, News and Youth. Closed

The draw for the U13, U14, U16 and U18 Cup and Plate Competitions has been made. Details of the draws can be found in the following files (Excel Spreadsheets):

Some cracking fixtures in prospect!

Calling All Members and Fans of Rugby – Please do your best to support our Youths in their upcoming campaigns.

Christmas Party Photos Online

Published on January 14, 2008 in Events, Membership and Photos. Closed

Photos from the Christmas Party are now available to view online – click on the photo below to see more.

U18s Travel in Style

Published on January 14, 2008 in Match Reports, News and Youth. Closed

Castlebar 7 :: Sligo 14

With Sligo’s pitch deemed unplayable, Sligo decided to give up home advantage and travelled to Castlebar where they ground out a hard earned 14 to 7 victory over a determined Castlebar side. With the wind at their backs Sligo was on attack for the majority of the first half, however with silly mistakes like final passes not going to hand, it was only in the final 10 minutes when the first points were scored. Some good passing saw winger Luke Henderson receive the ball 15 metres out from the Castlebar line, with determination and with 3 defenders hanging off him Henderson was able to dot down successfully just inside the corner flag. Keith Farry added the extra 2 points with a difficult side line conversion. Just before half time Sligo added to their tally. First centre Colin Keane collected a loose ball inside Castlebars 22 meter line, with some work to do the centre stepped inside 2 covered defenders to score under the posts. Farry again added the extra points, and these were to be Sligo’s last. Playing into the breeze, Sligo were forced to defend for the majority of the second half, a solid defensive effort only saw one converted Castlebar try, and a final score of 14 to 7 to Sligo. Continue reading ‘U18s Travel in Style’

U13s learn hard lesson

Published on January 14, 2008 in Match Reports, Photos and Youth. 1 Comment

Sligo 20 :: Galwegians (North) 31

For their first competitive fixture of 2008, Sligo Under 13’s played hosts to Galwegians(North) on a very chilly day at Hamilton Park, in a match that would prove to be a valuable learning exercise for the Sligo Panel.

As in their previous matches, Sligo rapidly took the game to their opponents. From the kick-off Sligo began to force Galwegians back towards their own line. Good rucking and mauling were to give Sligo the upper hand in terms of possession during the first half of what was to prove a very physical and hard fought meeting of two of the best panels in Connaught. Sligo were unlucky to have not scored a try within the first five minutes when Eoin Kilroy-Talbot was given the ball just outside of Galegians’ 22. Having burst through several Galwegian defenders, he was denied by a good hard tackle, the first of many experienced on both sides during this match. Continue reading ‘U13s learn hard lesson’

Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring Programme

Published on January 14, 2008 in Membership and News. Closed

Our “Bigâ€? Need – Calling male volunteers

As a club with a long tradition of voluntary service in the community, Sligo RFC was invited to a meeting organised by Ms. Yvonne McManus, Foroige, and attended by members of other local organisations. The following is a resume of Ms. McManus’s presentation: Continue reading ‘Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring Programme’