Hamilton Park, Strandhill, Sligo, Ireland – Founded 1890
Sligo’s ten game unbeaten run finally came to an end on Sunday as they lost 21-5 to a superb Corinthians side in Corinthian Park. This win lifts the Galway side to the top of the table, and puts them firmly in the driving seat for the league title.
Despite their title challenge being all but ended by their defeat on Sunday to Corinithians, Sligo will be looking for a confidence-boosting victory at home to Galwegians this Sunday, Februrary 15th. This could be the last home game of the season, and all club members are asked to attend and show their support and gratitude to a Sligo side that has represented them so gallantly on the pitch all season. Kick-off is 2.30pm at Hamilton Park.
Sligo U14s traveled to Castlebar last Friday to face a strong Castlebar outfit in perfect conditions for a free-flowing game of rugby. Sligo debutant Shane Boyles marked his first match with the team with two well-taken tries. Other try-scorers included man of the match, Fabian Zawada, who made some marauding breaks and opened the scoring with a try under the posts. James O’ Hehir scored with a superb break from within his own half, and did the speedy Niall O’Rourke who scored a lovely try from out on his wing. Conor Keirns added three conversions as Sligo ran out victorious by 31-24. This was a good run out for the team prior to their vital upcoming cup match and despite missing some key players through injury like Matt Davey, Leigh Dunne & Daragh Burke, produced a good team performance. The forward worked hard throughout, while the backs linked up to good effective and attacked fluently. Zawada was superb throughout, as was captain Gabriel Knecht who led by example with some fine rugby. [Match Photos]
The final showdown. Winner takes all. Two tough, uncompromising sides going head to head for 80 minutes on which rests the outcome of this years Connacht JL1 League. While the match won’t see the league champions crowned mathematically, it will take a shock of gargantuan proportions to not see the winner of this Sunday’s game crowned champions in a couple of weeks.
Table toppers Sligo travel to Corinthian Park, Clounacauceen to face a smooth, free-flowing Corinthians outfit who sit just below Sligo in 2nd place, but whose home advantage will make them strong favourites this Sunday. However this won’t worry the gritty Sligo outfit who have been written off all year by many observers, but have continued to grind out result after result. Sligo have done everything asked of them so far this year, the management triumvirate of Joe Walsh, Roger Burrows, and Cameron Giles have assembled a team that can match any in Connacht. Walsh’s tactics have been excellent so far, playing to his team’s strengths with a formidable forward-driven attack and impenetrable defence the two outstanding features of Sligo’s campaign. The management trio have fostered a deep work ethic in the Sligo side, and all season they have conducted themselves superbly on and off the pitch. From the opening day victory away to Buccaneers, Sligo have been atop the table as they cruised to victory in Athlone before following up with a win at home to arch rivals Ballina. Loughrea were next up and a sparkling display in the Strandhill sunshine saw Sligo’s backline run riot and run out comfortable victors.
Sligo advanced to the quarter-finals of the Heineken Connacht Junior Cup with a comfortable 0-22 away victory over Ballyhaunis on Sunday. Ballyhaunis who are a league below Sligo in JL1B never threatened a Sligo side, who sit atop JL1, and while the home side played with plenty of spirit the gulf in class was always going to be too much to overcome.
