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.

Sligo RFC U13′s attended the Pat Lawler Tournament hosted by UL Bohs recently. They had a super weekend. There were 21 teams competeing from all four provinces. Sligo played and defeated Instonians, Ennis and Castle Island and were narrowly defeated by the host club UL Bohs. Having qualified for the Plate Semi Final, Sligo were beaten by Garyowen in the last seconds of extra time. Garyowen went on to comfortably win the Plate Final.

The full Sligo squad all played and can be very proud of what they achieved. Competing at a national level showed that under age rugby is alive and well up here in the North West. Congratulations to the coaching team of Mike McGrath, Niall Gray, Fergal Hickey and Mark Impey and all involved with the squad.

This coming weekend Sligo are hosting an U13 fun coaching blitz. Players from Dunmore, Claremorris, Ballina and Sligo will play in a mixed format commencing at 11am this coming Saturday April 30th.

See more photos from the Pat Lawler Tournament on Sligo RFC Facebook page – here.

Sligo’s U15s wrestled back the provincial bragging rights when they avenged  last weekends one point Connacht cup final defeat by Corinthians after they superbly overcame the Galway outfit in an excellently fought league final encounter at Glenina on Sunday. Sligo scored two converted tries to nullify a Corinthian try and penalty in a game which was in the balance right to the final whistle.

Sligo kicked off into the strong breeze and immediately put pressure on their Galway opponents. Strong driving by the pack with Daire Byrne and Ryan Bright to the fore went unrewarded and it was the Galway outfit who were first to score. A series of rucks in the Sligo half culminated in a sweeping backline move which was rounded off with the concession of an unconverted try.

Sligo regrouped and immediately attacked the tribesmen. Outhalf Stephen Kerins took control and positioned his team in the attacking half. Pressure by the pack was rewarded with a penalty 15 metres from the Corinthian try line. Sligo decided to run the penalty and following a well set up ruck, powerhouse prop Conan O Donnell, burst through the cover and dotted down left of the uprights. Evan Mc Grath struck an excellent conversion to nudge his team ahead at the break.

Corinthians started the second half at a high tempo and their perseverance was rewarded with a well struck penalty 10 minutes into the half to regain a one point advantage.

Sligo were up to the task and their pressure game was starting to tell. Scrum half Ryan Feehily was giving his opposite number a torrid time at the scrums, centres Matthew Cosgrove and Mc Grath were winning the midfield battle and Full Back James Hampson was capably dealing with everthing thrown at him.

With ten minutes remaining on the clock Sligo struck the killer blow. A powerful Byrne drive was halted 7 metres from the Corinthian line before O Donnell picked, burst through the cover and crashed over for his, and his teams, second of the day. Mc Grath again converted to move his side 6 points clear.

Corinthians responded but excellent Sligo defence ensured the scoreline remained in Sligo’s favour when the referee blew the final whistle.

Sligo; James Hampson, Jack Tillion, Evan Mc Grath, Matthew Cosgrove, Jackson Smith, Stephen Kerins, Ryan Feehily, Thomas Moran, Francis Walsh, Conan O Donnell, Sean Hurley, Jake Sexton, Ryan Bright, Daire Byrne, Joe Conway. Reps Cian Cassidy, Ben Rooney, Luke Morrison, Jason Greer, Ronan Elliot, Diarmuid Mulligan, Darran Harte.

Sligo’s bid to create an unprecedented Connacht Junior double fell short by the narrowest of margins when they lost out to Mayo neighbours Ballina in the Cawley cup final at Glenina on Sunday. In a superbly fought contest Ballina’s hunger proved the deciding factor in a contest worthy of any final.

Ballina kicked off playing with the aid of a strong gale and soon Sligo were put under pressure with some fine use of the wind by the Ballina half backs. The early pressure was absorbed with some fine defensive work particularly by centres Matele Fifita and Gavin Foley but Ballina moved into a six point lead with two penalties from Outhalf Cory Brown.

Sligo began to settle and worked their way back into the game. An Aaron Spring touchline run gave Sligo field position in the Ballina 22 before the ball was moved infield. Fifita drove forward before linking up with the Sligo pack. From the resulting ruck scrum half Paddy Pearson fed outhalf Mark Butler who danced his way through the Ballina defence and touched down to the right of the posts. Butlers well struck conversion attempt into the strong breeze came back off the upright to put the score one point in favour of the Mayo side.

With the wind freshening Ballina continued to press and were rewarded with an excellently taken try on the half hour from full back Kieran Rouse. Brown converted to to move the half time score to 13-5.

The second half began with Sligo making use of the strong breeze. The Sligo lineout, with James Wilson to the fore was beginning to reap rewards and Fifitas physicality in midfield was causing problems for the mayo defence. Fifteen minutes in, an excellent Butler chip landed just short of the Ballina line. Full back rouse looked to be in control but the ball squirted free and Sligo winger Aaron Spring pounced on the loose ball to touch down and double his teams total. Butler added the extras to set up a one point game.

Sligo continued to chase the game and on the midpoint of the second half another moment of Butler skill moved his team ahead for the first time in the contest. Another Fifita break gave Sligo field position in the Ballina 22. Quick work at the breakdown gave the outhalf the chance to attack his opposite number and Butler superbly drove through the defence to touch down right of the posts. A well struck conversion kick put Sligo 19-13 ahead.

Sligo looked to close the game out but Ballina were not to be out done and with two minutes left on the clock, following a sustained period of continuity, scrum half Micheal Murphy darted through a gap to touch down left of the posts. Browns well struck conversion denied Sligo their first Cawley cup title. Photos from the game can be viewed here.

Uniquely, Sundays game acted as a dress rehearsal for the Heineken Connacht Junior cup final to be held at the Galway Sportsgrounds next Sunday. Both teams must lock horns again for the right to lift the premier Connacht Junior cup trophy. Sligo will be eagerly looking to avenge what was only their second competitive defeat of the season. Kick off at the Sportsground next Sunday is at 3pm.

Sligo; Niall O Hara, Aaron Spring, Gavin Foley, Matele Fifita, Billy Leahy, Mark Butler, Paddy Pearson (Capt) Ross Mannion, Gary Conneely, Adrian Mc Hale, James Wilson, Jamie Bowes, Cathal Culhane, Simon Coulter, Peter Mullan. Subs Wesley Maxwell, Martin Feeney, Brian Hynes, Frankie Feeney,Trevor Sweeney.

The Sligo U17s suffered the heartbreak of a final defeat when the lost out in the Connacht U17 league decider at the sportsground in Galway on Sunday.  Galwegian’s kicked three penalties to Sligo’s solitary effort in a closely fought battle that was in the balance right to the final whistle.

Galwegian’s started brightly and looked to bring their pacey backline into the game as quickly as possible. Sligos’s defence remained firm and big tackles from James O Hehir and Mark Gerrity ensured the early threat was snuffed out .
Then it was Sligo’s turn to attack and the pack with Eddie Connell and Diarmuid O Dowd-Hill prominent were gaining inroads into the blues territory. A promising move put together by Sligo in the tenth minute looked set to gain a reward but a loose pass was intercepted by Gawegians and only a superb chase and cover tackle by winger Enda Roche kept the Sligo line intact. From the ensuing ruck Sligo were penalised and ‘Wegians used the opportunity to open their account with a well struck penalty.

Sligo responded and some astute kicking by outhalf Enda Gavin gave them field position in the ‘wegians half. Pressure at the breakdown resulted in a penalty award and Full back Colm Egan made no mistake with a well judged effort to equalise, putting the scoreline at three all at the break.

The second half began with Sligo on the attack but their pick and dive game was well defended by the Galway outfit and no reward was gained for the packs endeavours. Galwegians went took the lead midway through the half with a well struck penalty and further increased their lead with a drop goal with fifteen minutes remaining. Sligo were stung into action and good play by the pack gave outhalf Enda Gavin the opportunity to position his team in the ‘wegians 22. A planned line out move almost resulted in a try but the ‘Wegians defence held firm.

Sligo continued to hunt for the all important try and with time almost up on the clock were awarded a series of penalties close to the ‘wegians line.  The forwards drove over the line three times but incredibly the referee was unsighted on each occasion and did not award the try to Sligo.

Sligo Colm Egan, Sean Finnegan, Jason Mc Goldrick, Mark Gerrity, Enda Roche, Enda Gavin, Ross Gordon, Fabian Zawada, Matt Davey, Jamie Mc Govern, Niall O Rourke, Shane Boyle, Diarmuid o Dowd-Hill, James O Hehir, Eddie Connell. Reps Conor Kerins for Gordon, Daragh Burke for Egan, Patrick Saba for Davey.

The Connacht branch and the IRFU are delighted to inform you that there will be a fitness workshop for all coaches in Sligo the 29th of November. The workshop will focus on fitness and conditioning for young players to adult beginners at strength training. This workshop will be based on the newly updated fitness and conditioning content in the Mini and foundation coaching courses.

The focus of this workshop is physical activity and movement skill development. The evening will concentrate on stages 1 and 2 of the Long Term Development Pathway, but will also investigate physical development of strength and conditioning of adults beginners. We will investigate physical activity levels and guidelines, the windows of opportunity for young players, PHV, Fundamental movement skills and the most appropriate content for young players and beginners.

The details are as follow -

Title -    “Fitness for young players and adults beginners at strength training”
Presenter -    Antoine Mobian (Connacht academy fitness coach) & Des Ryan (I.R.F.U. Fitness Education manager)
Date –         29/11/10
Time –         7.30pm to 9pm
Venue –     Sligo Grammar school, Sligo
Cost -        €5
Registration -    Coaches must register with Eamonn Molloy or Jimmy Duffy on 091 561 56 or emolloy@cbirfu.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The closing Date is the 26/11/10 and once registered coaches will receive information and a timetable before the workshop.

Last Sunday,Sligo took on and defeated Mayo rivals Castlebar in the Northern division of the U14 Connaught League by a massive margin to cement their position at the top of the table.  Sligo came out with all guns blazing to impress with an 8-try blitz over their visitors.

The powerful Sligo forward pack dominated the set pieces and worked well as a unit to win a great number of turnovers in the rucks and mauls.
The quality possession provided by the pack was put to good use by the well organised Sligo backline who used great width and speed to out run Castlebar.

Sligo also defended strongly throughbut the fixture but could not stop Castlebar’s number 8 from scoring their only try, a well worked effort touched down in the corner. This is the  only try that this team have conceded in their league campaign to date.

In previous games Sligo beat Ballina away by 22 points without reply and put Creggs to the sword in Strandhill  with an impressive 48 – 0 scoreline.

Scorers this weekend were:
Trys Odhran Gildea– 3 Dylan Gardner – 1 Ryan Feehily – 1 Stefan Hill – 1 Haddi Moussa – 2
Daragh Cummings – 4 cons Jack Cox – 1 con

Text your interest in tickets immediately to 0872613011 giving your name and ticket requirements stating the game and number of tickets you require.

Sligo U17s second league match was against a much fancied Galwegians side in Galway.

On a glorious day for rugby. Galwegians exerted much of the early pressure with little end product. Sligo’s aggressive defence was well capable of styfling what Galwegians threw at them. Sligo gradually gained the upper hand in all depatments apart from the scoreboard.

A combination of good forward play and excellent handling skills saw the first and only score of the first half when Enda Roache touched down. The try was not converted to leave the score 5-0 in favour of Sligo.

Sligo started with purpose and had Galwegians pinned deep within their own half. The breakthrough came from quick ball off a scrum when the ball was quickly sprayed out wide to Darragh Burke who touched down in the corner to make the score at 10-0.

This was followed by an action replay of the try beforehand with the only difference that it was Enda Roache who finished off the try. This try was converted by Enda Gavin.

Enda Roache was over the try line again only to be held up by a scrambling defence.

The Sligo pack dominated their opponents and Galwegians seemed powerless to stop them. Sligo continued to add to their score through winger Sean Fnnegan as he went in in the corner to leave the score 22-0 to Sligo.

Sligo: Fabian Zawada, Matt Davey, Jamie Mc Govern, Niall O Rourke, Shane Boyle, Callum Mc Loughlin, James O Hehir, Eddy Connell, Ross Gordon, Enda Gavin, Darragh Burke, Mark Gerrity, Enda Roache, Sean Finnegan and Conor Kerins. Subs James Tansey, Aaron Donnellan, Karol Devaney, James Mc Gwynne and Eoin Kilroy-Talbot.

Sligo travelled to Westport for their eagerly awaited first league outing with weather conditions ideal.

Westport hit the ground running early on but Sligo soaked up the pressure and countered. A good exchange of passes between Darragh Burke and Enda Gavin resulted in a try by Enda Gavin, which he duly converted.

Sligo were reduced to 14 when Enda Roche was sin binned for indiscipline. Westport piled on the pressure and went over in the corner after uncharacteristic slack tackling by Sligo. The try was not converted.    Patrick Saba was replaced by Matt Davey just before half-time because of a leg injury.

On the resumption Westport nearly took the lead with their fullback clean through but was denied by a last ditch tackle by Enda Gavin. Westport were awarded one of many dubious penalties which was kicked. This woke Sligo up and they started to string the phases together. Sligo were rewarded with a penalty in front of the posts converted by Enda Gavin.

Sligo should have added to their advantage but were thwarted at the line by their opponents and handlings mistakes.

Sligo did barge over the line with a terrific forwards try   starting off in their own half the forwards mauled and picked and drove over the line being finished off well by Jamie Mc Govern. The try was not converted.

Try as they might Westport couldn’t break over the line which left the score at 15-8 to Sligo at full-time.

SLIGO Darragh Burke Enda Gavin Ross Gordon Connor Kearins Jamie Mc Govern Callum Mc Loughlin James O Hehir Niall O Rourke Diarmuid O Dowd Hill Enda Roache Patrick Saba Fabian Zwada Eddie Connell Mark Gerrity Patrick Mc Gloin  Subs Used Shane Boyle and Matt Davey

All at Sligo RFC would like to wish Patrick Saba a speedy recovery from his injury.