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.

A narrow win and disappointing performance away to Creggs saw questions marks arise about Sligo’s title credentials, but these were soon dispelled by a superb performance away to Castlebar as a Paddy Pearson inspired Sligo emerged victorious by 16-20. A Halloween fright at the hand of Tuam was next and but Sligo held on to make it six wins from six and cement their place at the top of the table. Corrib were next to be to the sword and a gritty forward performance saw Sligo win comfortably by 17-0. Sligo’s trip to Westport saw their only stumble on the road so far when they were held to a 0-0 draw despite a superb forward display. Sligo quickly bounced back from this disappointment with a hard-fought 9-3 victory away to OLBC where three penalties from the boot of fullback David Gerrity were enough to secure victory. That victory was followed by Sligo’s biggest test so far, Monivea at home. Awful conditions saw Sligo battle hard but the Galwaymen held them to another 0-0 draw. This left Sligo three points clear of Corinthians, but who have a game in hand on the Yeats Men and leave matter delicately poised going into Sunday’s clash.

Corinthians roared into action early in the season, five impressive wins putting them at the top of the table and earmarking them as title favourites. However they came unstuck at home to the experience of Monivea who shut down the much vaunted Corinthians attack in a 0-13 whitewash. They bounced back with victories over Galwegians and Creggs before a crucial 3-7 victory away to Ballina. Their free-flowing game has seen their backline take teams apart so far this season and in full-back they boast a finisher of real quality in fullback, Ciaran Dolan, who has touched down eight times so far this season in the league. Corinthians are a side packed full of talent. The squad is feeding nicely into their AIB League team who are right in contention for promotion and many of the players excelling in JL1 this season have broken into the first team. They go into Sunday’s game as favourites but will still have to prove they can get results against the top teams, and expel the nightmare of their home defeat to Monivea.

Sligo’s victories so far have been built around hark-work and discipline, with their set pieces exemplary. The props Martin Feeney, Adrian McHale, Ross O’Boyle, Gary Conneely, and Daragh Cox have been superb with Feeney and McHale showing how much their hard work in training has paid off with some barn-storming performance. Captain Ross Mannion has been superb at hooker, contributing in the loose matching his faultless throwing at the line-out. The line-out has been a major source of success for Sligo this year, with Mannion’s link-up with second row colossus James Wilson a vital part. Wilson has been a revelation this year providing a platform on which his side can prosper; he has been ably supported in the second row by the evergreen Peter Mullan. Mullan is having one of his best seasons in a Sligo jersey, and his all-round game as well as big match experience has ensured his cool head has steadied the ship for Sligo at times. Jamie Bowes has been challenging strongly for a starting place since his return from a facial injury and having got the nod against Monivea he will be looking to cement his starting place here. Kim and Andy Williams along with Trevor Sweeney have also been solid when called upon this season and show the strength in depth that lies within the Sligo pack. It has been a long time since Sligo were able to call on such dynamic back-rowers as those available at the moment. The consistent Cathal Culhane continues to be Sligo’s unsung hero, as his work ethic and skills at the breakdown have seen him dismantle far flashier opponents so far this season. Blindside flanker Joe Sweeney has been one of Sligo stars this year, always making himself available for that vital carry or being in the right place to make that big hit. David Greene missed the early part of the season through injury but the club vice captain is back fighting fit and his freshness may be of use to Sligo to on Sunday. Tongan powerhouse Mataelae Fifita is the final piece in the backrow jigsaw and in his debut season for Sligo, he has already proved a firm crowd favourite with his powerful drives and big hits making a major impact. He is also Sligo’s leading try-scorer with four tries this year, including a superb solo effort against Corrib.

Sligo’s backline has seen a number of changes so far this year, some tactical and some enforced. The Halloween injury to Kiwi maestro Paddy Pearson in a freak accident that forced him out for the season was a massive blow to the side, as in his short space of time at the club he had shown himself to be one of the most exciting players ever seen in Hamilton Park. His match-winning performance in Castlebar will not be forgotten for a while. South African winger Nick Reynolds is another loss to the squad with his incisive running lines and lightening pace always a danger. However both these players have been adequately replaced as Sligo have re-shuffled and re-worked a back-line that is potent in attack but watertight in defence. At scrum-half Warner Wilders and Billy Leahy are locked in friendly rivalry for the number nine slot. Leahy is the more traditional scrumhalf with his sniping keeping opposing backlines on their toes while his distribution has been excellent. Wilders’ offers a more combative presence at the base of the scrum, playing more like a ninth forward with his strength and tackling as huge asset. Veteran out-half Gavin Foley has been his usual cool self, his experience proving vital in a number of close encounters so far this season. His tactical kicking performances recently have been excellent and Sligo will be looking for another controlling performance from Foley on Sunday. Centres Andrew Feeney and Andre Taurerewa have built up a reliable partnership built on their solid defence contributing to Sligo having conceded fewer points than any other side in JL1 so far this year.

Winger Brian Hynes has made the step up from second team to first team rugby very successfully, and shows just how important a second team is to a junior club these days. He has been excellent throughout the campaign with his defence and kicking skills prominent. Fullback has seen the youthful David Gerrity shine this season and develop into one of Sligo’s most influential players. His dangerous running lines and faultless tactical kicking combined with his reliable goal-kicking have been an important part of Sligo’s success as he has developed into one of the best fullbacks in junior rugby. Lightening fast Ted Mulvaney who missed a number of games with a broken thumb, is back and in superb form and his pace and finishing abilities provide Sligo with a real threat. Julian Rippon has been a long-term absentee but has been a first-team regular for a number of seasons, and the speedy winger will hope to be back in the action as soon as possible and having come on a substitute on Sunday in Ballyhaunis he will provide coach Joe Walsh with a much-welcome selection head ache. Walsh will have some big calls to make this weekend, and some decisions will be extremely tight but you cannot argue with his decisions so far this year and hopefully the team he selects will add to this list.

It promises to be a titanic struggle with Corinthian’s flair and pace facing Sligo’s grit and strength. Sligo’s pack has been dominant against all opponents this year and another repeat of this on Sunday will give them a huge platform upon which to secure the title-winning victory. Sunday’s game is the biggest game in Connacht next weekend, and both club captain Ross Mannion, and club president Conor Frasier are urging all club members, past and present, and any other Sligo sports fans to travel and ensure a big Sligo following in Corinthian Park. Kick-off is 3pm in Galway.