A mouth watering opening game away to  Monivea should prove a great opener for a Sligo side brimming with class and potential. With the quality available to coach Dave O’Daly and manager John Keegan, Sligo are looking forward to a potentially huge successful campaign from a group of highly talented players. Players are asked to meet at the Retail Park at 10am.

The core of the Sligo team are made up from last seasons extremely successful under 17 side coached by Michael O Hehir and Peter Bannard and  managed by Joe Davey. A last gasp Connacht final  defeat, to eventual All Ireland winners Galwegians,unfortunately prevented this group of players from reaching their full potential, and this new challenge should prove enough motivation to focus the team to attain their full potential.

Up front Sligo have an embarrassment of riches to choose from. Fabian Zawada always gives his opposite number a torrid time. Matthew Davey continues to grow as an all round hooker and the powerful Jamie Mc Govern never fails to to impose his undoubted ability on the opposition. Add the unquestioned talents of Wayne o’Hara-Carty, Kieran Melly, Aaron Donnelan and Patrick Saba and on any given day Sligo’s front row can match any challenge.

The all important second row is another area of strength for Sligo. James Tansey, Martin Clarke and Connacht Schools player Diarmuid O’Dowd Hill are powerful driving influences. The athletic Niall O’Rourke is a huge source of possession at the line out. Shane Boyle’s physicality is vital to any team.

The back row will be bolstered by Connacht schools players James O’Hehir and Eddie Connell. O’Hehir is a classic tearaway who tackles everything in his path with relish and Connell is a superbly athletic 8 who carries ball superbly. Add the excellent David Heath, who has recently performed excellently at Ulster Bank League level for the club, and Sligo’s back row should match all comers.

The scrum half position is another area of strength for Sligo. The highly talented Enda Gavin is equally at home in the 9 or 10 position. Gary O’Hehir has been producing consistent performances for the Sligo first XV and  Ross Gordon has always filled the pivot role with success.

Gordon, Gavin and  Conor Kearins have seamlessly interchanged in the 9 and 10 slots for Sligo through their career development through the ranks of Sligo RFC and the excellent footballing ability of Kieran Blake can only enhance Sligo’s ability in this vital area.

At midfield Sligo’s options include the superb Sean Donnelly, who’s physical ability is a test for any defence and  Cathal Finneran who’s footballing ability is an addition to any back line.

Potentially, Sligo have a back three capable of unlocking any defence! Enda Roche can attack from any of the back three positions, Cyrus Mc Glynn never fails to produce a consistent performance, Jimmy Mullins can seamlessly slot in where required and the fleet footed Darragh Burke always takes his opportunities.

Robbie Keegan has consistently being producing superb attacking performances and his Ulster Bank League experience will be a huge asset to Sligo.

Following Monivea away on Sun Oct 30th, Sligo will face Corinthians away on Nov 6th and then take on the league favourites Buccaneers at home in Sligo on Nov 13th.

The U19′s are delighted to announce SIS Group (Support in Sport) as their new sponsor. Sligo RFC is indebted to SIS who have partnered with the U19′s for the next two years. We look forward to building the relationship moving forward and many thanks are extended to George Mullan and SIS for their support. For more information on SIS Group please click here.

Please note – The U19′s currently train on Tuesday and Fridays at 6.30 out at the club. Please contact John Keegan if you require any further details on 086 253 5602.

By now your team captain will have registered your team and submitted the required registration fee, if not, please contact Justin Deegan immediately at tag@irishrugby.ie or email us and we will assist you in what ever way we can in regard to getting payment to the IRFU.

Anyone who is interested in playing but is not on a team, please email us and we will try to accomodate you as best as we can.

Captains:

• Please email your team sheets to us ASAP if you have not done so already! (Please see Template attached at the end of this post)
• For those captains who are new to tag; all team captains are required to come to the Tag Tent 20mins before your games starting time to fill in and sign your team sheet, this must be returned to the tent BEFORE your games begin.

Other things to note:

There are 2 pitches allocated to tag players for your training, those are:

1. Doorly Park (Opposite Argos)
2. Pitch beside the cemetry, opposite Sligo Race Course.

** Michael Condren of the Sligo County Council has informed us if any teams require other Sligo Borough Council training facilities, the facilities need to be booked and paid for in accordance with council’s conditions of pitch hire. Michael’s contact details are as follows - Phone: 0719114440, email: mcondren@sligocorp.ie

• Shorts will be on sale at the Tag Tent each week for €20 for any taggers who require them.
• Tags will be provided on the night, you do not have to bring tags with you.
• You must wear tag shorts for the Tag matches.
• Taggers are not permitted to wear any jewellery during tag games!

Entertainment:

• See attached our Save The Dates for the Sligo Tag Rugby’s weekly Entertainment
• Week 1 - Live Music Night sponsored by JAKO – Lee Munn on Guitar
• Week 2 - Table Quiz
• Week 3 – Sports Day Games
• Week 4 – Trad Night
• Week 5 - FRIDAY Night Fancy Dress & Friendly Games
• Week 6 – McHughs Night
• Week 7 – Musical Bingo
• Week 8 – Charity Vegas Night
• Week 9 – McHughs Night
• Week 10 – Sumo Night
• Week 11 - FRIDAY Night FINALS

Sligo Weekender:

• We are looking for players to do a player profile in the Sligo Weekender each week. If you or any members of your team would like to do this please let us know at sligotag@gmail.com

See you all on THURSDAY MAY 5th

Attachments and further information:
Mixed Social Beginners Tag Info (PDF)
Mixed Social Intermediate Tag Info (PDF)
Sligo Tag Rugby Team Sheet (Excel File)
Tag Entertainment – Save the Dates (PDF)

Next Sunday sees a watershed day in the history of Sligo Rugby Club. Sligo take on Castlebar in their final Connacht Junior League Division 1A match knowing that a win will guarantee that the league trophy will be residing at Hamilton park until next season. Sligo have not won this league since 1972.The added incentive for winning the league this season is that the winners will automatically be promoted to Division three of the All Ireland League and this fact ensured that this seasons league was extremely competitive.

This season Sligo have been a revelation. 7 bonus points secured from 10 league games and currently three points clear of second placed Monivea. Sligo have scored 70 trys and conceded only 9. Sligo are currently the highest scoring Junior Club in the country and following their heartbreaking one point defeat in the semi final of the All Ireland Junior cup they are guaranteed to be fired up for next Sunday’s encounter.

Sligo’s success this season has being based on a solid platform from their highly competitive forwards combined with a powerful athletic backline. Props Adrian Mc Hale, Wesley Maxwell and Martin Feeney have superbly dealt with all opposition threats. Hookers Ross Mannion and Gary Conneely have been accurate at lineout time as well as showing continued dynamism in the loose exchanges. Second Row James Wilson’s lineout play has been a handful for all comers and his partner Jamie Bowes is having a superb season with his trademark driving runs causing problems for all defences.

The back row forwards, Cathal Culhane, Paddy Conlon, Peter Mullan and Simon Coulter have shown a physicality lacking in previous Sligo teams and their work at the breakdown has been a feature of all of Sligo’s games this season.

At scrum half Paddy Pearson is the veritable box of tricks and as team captain his decision making has been excellent, Frankie Feeney has proved an invaluable back up fitting seamlessly in when needed. Outhalf Mark Butler is a constant threat and his excellent goal kicking has ensured the Sligo scoreboard is constantly ticking. Mata Fifita and Gavin Foley have formed an excellent centre partnership in both attack and defence. Full back David Gerrity always displays his football ability, Winger Aaron Spring has scored crucial trys with powerful running style and fellow wingers Billy Leahy,Brian Hynes and Roger Burrows have never been found wanting when called upon.

With Ireland playing at 3pm, the Kick off next Sunday is at 12.30pm and the Ireland match will be shown in the Clubhouse afterwards so come along and cheer the team to what we hope will be a historic victory.

Calling all Rugby Supporters! Get yourselves out to Hamilton Park this Saturday at 2.30 for what should be a cracker of a game between Sligo and Armagh in the All-Ireland Junior Cup Quarter Final – come on and get behind the boys!

The draw, in which Prizes of €1,000, €500 and €250 are up for grabs, will take place in Mc Hughs Bar Grattan Street Sligo on the evening of the 26th. Some tickets are still available for purchase. For details contact Ross Mannion at the Record Room, Grattan Street, Sligo.

The draw is always of great interest as every club in Connacht is involved in this competition and like all Cup draws the minnows can be pitted against the strongest.

The format this year is that there is a preliminary round of seven games with the seven winners going forward to the last sixteen. As it transpired Sligo got drawn for this preliminary round away to West Offaly Lions. This will be a first meeting of the two clubs as West Offaly are a very recently formed club which are based in Ferbane. In recent years the local secondary school St Saran’s have had much success and have made their mark in Connacht. In fact two members of the Connacht Pro team Conor Oloughlin and Aidan Wynne are products of this college.

The West Offaly Lions are a decent side who operate at Junior 1B and will not be taken lightly especially in front of their vocal local supporters. However Sligo who are at the top of the Junior league would be expected to progress. If this happens then we are at home for the next round against most likely Monivea which would be the real interesting scenario considering Sligo will be visiting Monivea the previous Sunday for a vital and possibly league deciding clash. What a week of rugby awaits both Sligo and Monivea . If both sides win their league games up to that point then the clash of the top two on the 10^th of January will define the season for both clubs with a Cup clash the following week to spice things up.

The rest of the cup draw, should Sligo progress is very favourable with  home matches all the way to the final. There is still a hell of a lot of rugby to be played yet this season and there are some real tough encounters ahead for Sligo both in AIB All Ireland Junior Cup Junior League and Heineken Junior Cup. I am sure coach Simon Galvan will be just focusing on the next match and hopefully the team will continue in the winning ways that has been the case so far.

Tullamore are the current holders of this Cup, having defeated Navan RFC in a thrilling final last April, come into the game on the back of a tough away victory in Coleraine which gave everyone a clear signal of their intent to do their utmost to retain the trophy.

So far this season Sligo have delighted their supporters with their high tempo expansive game, winning their first 5 Connacht  junior league matches, securing 4 bonus points, and clocking up a massive 27 tries in the process. However, the victory over Clonmel, in very difficult conditions, showed that when required this team are not afraid to roll up the sleeves and grind out a victory.

Sligos pack have been the cornerstone to their success so far this season and will again have to be at their best to overcome what is likely to be a very physical Tullamore 8. Prop forwards Jason East and Adrian Mc Hale will need to put in a big effort to ensure a solid platform in the scrum. In the lineouts, Hooker Gary Conneely will want to ensure he connects with James Wilson and Peter Mullan. Jamie Bowes and Trevor Sweeney will be looking to carry over the hard yards and Cathal Culhane will be have to be at his best at the breakdown.

Behind the Scrum Billy Leahy is likely to continue his partnership with Niall O Hara and a good service from Leahy is vital to allow O Hara the space to control the game. At inside centre Gavin Foley will be relied on to again marshal what is already a mean defence and at outside centre Sligo will be hoping Jordan Farrington is at his creative best to try to unlock the midlanders defence.

The back three of David Gerrity, Jack Macklin and Gary Collins should see plenty of action and Sligo will be looking to use their pace at every opportunity.

Kick off is at 2.30 in Tullamore and a supporters bus is available.For details contact the club secretary at 0868478614

So far in this seasons league campaign Sligo’s expansive rugby has delighted their followers with a total of 24 tries scored in 5 matches with the majority of these tries coming through their exciting backline.
However, as is often quoted in rugby circles “Forwards win matches and backs decide by how much” and the work of the Sligo pack has been instrumental in the Sligo success story so far.

Coach Simon Galvan has the enviable task of selecting a team from one of the strongest squads assembled in Sligo in recent years. Props Jason East and Adrian Mc Hale look set to start with Martin Feeney another possible option. The hooking berth is currently filled by Gary Conneely but Ross Mannion is an equally capabable alternative for this position.  The Second Row is likely to be filled by James Wilson and Jamie Bowes but the form of second team player Dermot Kiely has given the coach something to thinkabout. Trevor Sweeney has being wearing the No.8 jersey to date with Cathal Culhane and Peter Mullan packing down at open and blindside respectively. Billy Leahy and Paddy Pearson have struck up a good partnership at half back and will be hoping to make effective use of the ball provided by their pack. Veteran Gavin Foley looks set to continue his centre partnership with the creative Jordan Farrington. Andrew Feeney and Jack Macklin also give the coach options in this area. Three from a list including David Gerrity, Julian Rippon, Ted Mulvaney, Gary Collins, Andrew Feeney and Jack Macklin will make up the back three combination.

The game kicks off at 2.30 at Clonmel RFC next Saturday.