Hamilton Park, Strandhill, Sligo, Ireland – Founded 1890
West Offaly Lions 11 :: Sligo 0
With the pitch in Ferbane unplayable, Sligo’s 2nd XV travelled to Ballinasloe on Sunday last to play newcomers to Connacht rugby, West Offaly Lions, in the Connacht Junior 2 league. A squad of 22 players made the long journey, and while they were disappointed with the outcome, a number of positives can be gleaned from the game. Continue reading ’2nd Team Overcome By The Lions’
With just four league games remaining, and Sligo just a single point ahead of OLBC at the danger zone of the table, next Sunday’s Connacht Junior 1 League tie between Sligo and OLBC in Hamilton Park [kick-off 2.30 pm], is of major importance to both teams. Continue reading ’1st Team's Crucial Tie With OLBC’
All applications for tickets for the Ireland V Italy game in Croke Park on Saturday February 2nd [Kick-off 2pm], must be lodged with the Chairman of the club’s International Ticket Sub-Committee, Michael Storey, Glen Upper, Glencar, Co.Sligo no later than Friday next [January 18th]. Priority will be given in the allocation of tickets to fully paid up members who are subscribers to the club’s monthly draw and who are workers in some capacity in the club. All applications must be accompanied by the appropriate amount of cash or by a signed cheque. Applications for the remaining Internationals [both home and away], with cash/cheques, should also be lodged by Friday next. The International Sub-Committee for this season, appointed by the club President is: Michael Storey [Chair.,club Hon.Sec.], Rory Raftery [Membership Sec.], Jonathan Hill [Sponsorship Chairman], Brian Mullan [Club Trustee], Vincent O’Brien [Club Trustee].
The application form for tickets can be downloaded from here.
A symposium on rugby in Sligo will take place in the Glasshouse Hotel on Monday next, January 21st at 7.30 pm. The symposium is being convened by the club President, and invitations have been issued to all Committee and Sub-Committee members, the Club Trustees, former club Presidents, all coaches in the club from U-7 to Senior, Senior Players, Representatives of Women’s Rugby, Representatives of Tag Rugby and to Workers/Volunteers in the club.
The purpose of the symposium is to elicit as much information as possible from the above named personnel so that a plan can be formulated for the development and promotion of rugby for both sexes in the Sligo RFC catchment area. A Sub-Committee for this purpose will shortly be appointed.
Work on the planning and design of the club’s proposed state of the art new development at Cloverhill is now completed, so it is appropriate that rugby development in the region is optimised, so that the maximum number possible can benefit and derive enjoyment from such a top class local amenity.
Last Friday night’s alcohol-free teenage disco was again a huge success, and was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance. Once again, the entire club membership is indebted to the event Organiser, Justin Harte, who as usual did an outstanding job, Chief Steward, Niall Draper, House Chairman, John Kane, and the 30 stewards who kindly made themselves available. Their presence and efficiency ensured that everyone had a most enjoyable time. Many thanks also to top DJ,Levi Curran.
The next disco will be held to coincide with the mid-term break from school and will take place on Friday, February 15th. This will be a strictly all-ticket event. Full details later.
Sligo Grammar School’s Senior team had a comprehensive victory over Portumna Community School in Portumna on Thursday last in the Connacht Schools’ Senior Cup. In the next round they play the winners of the Summerhill College V St.Raphael’s, Loughrea game, which was scheduled to take place in Monivea on Monday last [January 14th], and the result was not available at the time of going to press. A senior cup game, played in Sligo, between Grammar and Summerhill would certainly whet the appetites of all local rugby enthusiasts and is a distinct possibility, as Summerhill will be strongly fancied to overcome Loughrea. This game is likely to take place at the end of this month.
As stated previously in these notes, Sligo played Dublin University [Trinity College] in a friendly fixture in 1910, and it is planned to mark the centenary of that game with a game between the two clubs in 2010. On Saturday last, the club President, Tom Gilligan and his wife, Maresa, and Committee member, Peter Gillespie, were delighted to be the guests of Dublin University RFC President, David Duffy, at the pre-match reception and luncheon [and of course for the post match analysis] on the occasion of the AIL game between Dublin University and DLSP at College Park.
Dublin University is the oldest rugby club in the world, having been founded in 1854. College Park is not the best of pitches, but it’s setting in the campus, adjacent to the famous cobbled quads, where the footsteps of former students of the College, such as Theobold Wolfe Tone, Oscar Wilde and Robert Emmet once reverberated, makes it unique and pricelessly historic.
The game was a thriller, won by the home side by 20-18. Both sides had strong Sligo links. The opposing full-backs were Sligomen, Paul Gillespie and Karl Gilligan, who each scored a try, while at No.6 for Dublin University was Richard Morrow, a native of Castleconnor, Co. Sligo. Playing at second row for DLSP was Aidan Toher, whose father, Michael is a native of Grange, and whose relatives, including his cousins who played under-age with Sligo, reside in Maugherow.
This weekend sees a number of exciting Youth fixtures taking place at Hamilton Park.
Saturday
Sunday
All members are urged to attend and show your support.
The International Ticket Order form for the upcoming 6 Nations Tournament can be downloaded directly from here. Members should complete and return ASAP if they wish to get tickets for any of the upcoming games.
At the AIB All-Ireland Junior Cup draw, held in Blackrock College RFC on Saturday last, Sligo has again been favoured by a home draw, and they will meet the winners of the Castlehavan V Kanturk tie, which was postponed last week-end, in the quarter final. At the time of going to press, the date for this fixture is not known, but Sunday February 3rd is being mooted as a possible date. All the visitors from Co. Cork are guaranteed a warm welcome in Sligo.
Sligo 20 :: Coleraine 17
Giving an outstanding all round team performance, Sligo tore the form book to shreds at Hamilton Park on Saturday last, when they defeated last season’s All-Ireland finalists, Coleraine, in the opening round of the AIB All-Ireland Junior Cup. Played in blustery and wet conditions, the inhospitable weather notwithstanding, this was a typical cup tie, which certainly warmed the cockles of the hearts of all home supporters.
Continue reading ‘Sligo Knock Last Year's Finalists Out Of AIB All-Ireland Cup’
Sligo 12 :: Galwegians 7
For the first time in four years Sligo overcame last years league champions Galwegians in a hard fought game in Strandhill by 12 points to 7. Sligo got off to a great start when Wegians knocked on from the deep kick off from full back Pat Hughes. From the resultant scrum just outside the 22 No 8 Aaron Spring broke down the blind side and swayed through the defence to score under the posts and Chris Nairn dropped over the conversion.
The Event Organiser, Justin Harte has finalised arrangements for the post Christmas alcohol-free teenage disco, which will be held in the Clubhouse, Hamilton Park on Friday next, January 11th at 9 pm. Top D.J., Levi Curran will provide the music. Tickets for the disco went on sale from the usual sellers last week, and at the time of going to press had almost sold out, so to avoid disappointment, immediate purchase is recommended.
Sligo’s 2nd team, managed by Michael Storey, Des Butler and Declan Lynch, travel to Ferbane, Co. Offaly on Sunday next to play West Offaly Lions in a re-arranged Connacht Junior 2 league fixture. This team has been improving all season and their value to the club was exemplified on Saturday last V Coleraine when players such as Ted Mulvaney, Tim Jessop, Brian Hynes, Dermot Kiely, Stuart O’Brien and Stephen Woods, made the step up to the 1st team with ease. With a full squad, Sligo will be hopeful of bringing home the spoils. The team bus departs from Sligo Garda Station at 11 am.
With the Connacht Junior 1 League not resuming until Sunday week, January 20th, the upcoming week-end will be quiet for the 1st team squad.
