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I don't understand the griping about bias towards Ballymote on the forum here, the match deserved to end up as a draw, the penalty was perfectly legit - a footblock in the penalty area despite what people say - but defending by both sides was bad, particularly in the full back line. Sligonian, how can you say that Tourlestrane were the better team, you're not even in the country. Ballymote were the better team after the Tourlestrane penalty miss, completely deserved a draw after the awful decision in the first half, with the ref blowing up for half time with the ball in mid-flight. Poor refereeing in general I agree but to say he was biased is a ridiculous statement - O'Hara once again did ye no favours with his constant complaining.

Results:

John's 1-15 Tubber 0-8

I was at this game in ballymote saturday evening, i travelled from Mayo to watch it.

Firstly there were two games on and NO PROGRAM provided at the game. Thats poor for a c\ship match.
Secondly why was a kid 15\16 the linesman for this game, this is very dangerous. This is c\ship were talking about when things can get heated, you need your experience officials at these games. What would happen if this kid was hit or hurt during a game.

Anyway back to the game, poor standard and St Johns always looked in control. Tubber are missing a good few from last years team and subsquently look a very different team to the one that brought them to the county final last year. St Johns have a strong outfit and totally dominated midfield have a few dangerous hard working forwards

St Johns should top this group now.

No program? I highly doubt there was a program at any of the games this weekend - certainly none at St Molaises and Castleconnor - and from what I'm hearing none at the other double header in Tubber - It's only a group game for crying out loud! As for the 16 year old linesman - there was another youn lad at the game I was at - did a terrible job, nearly causing a row on a couple of occasions - I can't understand why they'd let a young fella be involved in an important game like that.
As for the game - well I haven't seen Molaises in action before so I wasn't sure of what to expect - nothing tremendous to write home about I'm afraid... although that's a lot more than what can be said for Castleconnor - I understand that they've lost a few players since last year... but they were truly diabolical - it seemed like even the basics of the game were tough at times.

No county players playing as far as I know - without taking the gloss off a well deserved victory for Ballymote, Harps were missing their four county players. Clancy was instrumental in midfield, for long periods of the second half he didn't give the Harps men a sniff. Stephen Ross and Mark Irwin were brilliant also, Irwin creating the goal that changed the game. Marty Underwood came on in the second half and played very well, Lyons was good but it was by no means his best game this year. All in all, Ballymote were the better team on the day, this result was a long time coming... I can't remember the last time we last beat Harps!

[i dont do quiet]

Thanks Seanie - didn't want to come on blowing our own trumpet(but here I go). The final was what you would hope for in a final, a brillant match from both teams.  We are very lucky with that group coming through and we had as you know a few classics with yourselvesr 2-3 years back where it took a lot of extra time and replays to get a result(in yer favour).
They are a good bunch who all seem to love the game.  If they keep it up definitely 2 class forwards there for the future and at least 1 defender.
Sligonian will be happy to hear we had 2 players from the Mayo part of the parish who only want to play for us and Sligo, so things are beginning to look up on that front.
Numbers is a problem with our subs all aged 10, but one day out like that every few years is very rewarding.

Senior - the less said the better but the lads who have gone are a massive loss.  The lads replacing them are good but are too young and light at the moment but their time will come.

Division 2 this year is where all the interesting battles will be, you could not pick who would go up or down.

That is great hear Westie, I want all clubs to maximise there potential for the good of SLIGO football, keep it up.

Westie how is Niall Judges recovery from injury going? He needs to be kept a eye on and not lost to GAA as he was massive loss to sligo minors last yr.

On the u21s I knew Henry was stil underage but didnt know why he was unavailable, will he be back does anyone know?, Himself and Gilmartin were perfect foils for each other last yr. Burns from my club will push Hanley for his place though so good competition and cover there.

Paddy greene was outstanding against Galway minors in carrick the yr they went on to win All Ireland. Would be a good addition. Keelan cawley was class that day too. Need Coen fully fit though, extra scoring power, will he be back. Good to see Eoin back to form and Gavin Gilsenan got our Club player of the year, Congrat to him.

I cant argue with that Seanie i dont do quiet, I expect Sligo u21s to win Connacht. Im going to go to alot of trouble to get home for that final if we get to it, not coming home to see us lose. If leitrim beat us in the semi my partially made plans are screwed .

With regards to your query about stephen henry, I think he's back as of now, he played against harps as far as I know - he had been out with an ankle injury he picked up at the start of the year, but it looks like he might be back for the start of the u-21s campaign now.

Great result for Ballymote at the weekend, the football they played (especially in the first half) was of the highest quality. Curry were very ineffective in the forward lines, an early goal by Ballymote greatly set the tone for the rest of the game. In the second half, it looked like Curry were about to mount a comeback, however a penalty settled Ballymote again and the scores were few and far between for either side after that.

I don't think any venues are announced yet, I'd expect them to be posted by next week though. I'm not so sure that there is a dominance in Sligo football - aside from Harps, most teams are very beatable this year - which is why I expect we may see a shock or two in the quarters.

Yeah i can see why you say that but i just feel they're lacking somethin, to be honest, castleconnors and Farnan's gropu wasn't that strong was it?

Tubber will beat Ballymote, they've more skill and class, kelly, mcgee, curran, gilmartin, murphy all good players
Harps will win easily enough, Donovan, McGover, O Grady taylorx2,. They look very good.
Curry will beat gaels, they prob lost the last day because they were already thru and def top. wouldn read into it. Marren and Feeney back too.
Coolera will beat castleconnor but only just.

Curry vs Coolera,
Tubber vs Harps,

With Marren and Feeney added to an everstrong cury team, and Harps looking unstopable coupled with Tubber inexperience i'll say it's a Harps Curry final!

As already pointed out, Harps and Curry will face each other in the semis - if they both win. I know it's just your opinion, but I wouldn't write off any team left in the Championship, as the poll above proves with apparent favorites Tourlestrane crashing out. It's football and anything can happen.
With regards to Tubber and Ballymote, Tubber may possess some great players but so do Ballymote, with McTiernan, Doddy, Munds, Clancy, Lyons - not forgetting that the teams drew both of their previous league encounters... I know League form means nothing but I am anticipating this match with huge interest, it'll be a cracker!

Business end of the championship! I have to say the standard of football is something horrific. I mean not only on the intercounty scene but also on the club scene. Ive watched one good game all year, Galway Kerry. Thats it.

Anyway, like i said business end of championship. I thinks it's harps to throw away. But not cause they are playing well, but everyone else is playing shite!

Curry have the two lads coming back but they look a shadow of the ruthless team they used to be.
Tubber will be tough stopped, i guarentee that!
Coolera will be there or there abouts.

Ballymote, Gaels, Castleconnor, Farnans will be too far away.

Thoughts opinions?

I think you're dismissing the four teams you mentioned rather easily - with the exception of Gaels, the other three are unbeaten in the Championship thus far, and I'm sure have the hunger and desire to progress - I predict a shock in the quarters, not quite sure who but I can't see everything going as planned.. If you pushed me I would fancy Gaels to upset Curry - but thats a big call. As for the other three matches, Ballymote/Tubber is the undoubted tie of the round - I don't know how to call it!

Ballymote qualified for the quarter finals yesterday with a 2-09 to 0-09 points victory against Shamrock Gaels in Tubber. It was a lacklustre game, hampered by torrential rain in which neither side set the world alight. The six point margin is slightly flattering, as it was a closely contested match throughout. Ballymote's superior scoring ability was the main difference between the teams, and had Joe Quinn converted a penalty with five minutes to go instead of blazing it over the bar for a point when the sides were only seperated by four points, the outcome may have been very different.
Ballymote raced into a six point lead at the start of the game, Dermot McTiernan scoring a goal to make the score 1-03 to 0-0. Gaels never really threatened to come into the game until the second half, with most of their scores coming from the accurate boot of Quinn through frees. In fact, Gaels inability to score from play was probably the determining factor, with Ballymote taking all but one of their chances in the first half.
The major talking poitn of the game came five minutes from the end, when Nigel Clancy was deemed to have footblocked a scoring attempt inside the square - from my angle I was unable to see whether it was or not, but the general feeling in the stands was that it was a harsh decision. Clancy was booked for the challenge, and Quinn began his run up for the penalty... before balzing it over for a point. I have to say I was in utter shock when the ball went over the bar, whether he meant to take the point or if he misjudged the kick is still unclear.
Clancy was dismissed for a second yellow a few moments later after a tussle with Quinn, and as always seems to be the case the team with fourteen men rallied and broke through on goal, the young Colin Byrne laying a deft pass into the path of Michael Sweeney, who converted a goal to end Gaels challenge.
Ultimately, this performance was quite a poor one by both teams standards, and improvement is greatly needed before the quarter finals if they want to mount a challenge for the Owen B this year.

I agree with what's bein said here - I may get slated for this, but in my opinion O Hara needs to get over himself - he is CLEARLY not the player he once was. The way he tries to influence games by practically screaming at the referee is a disgrace, and I'm glad it's finally becoming an issue.

Was at the junior league final in ballymote last night - featuring Ballymote and Easkey. A good standard of football throughout, though I must say the amount of senior players on the teams was a little strange. Easkey looked like they would win by a cricket score after the first fifteen minutes, amassing a huge nine point lead of 3-5 to 0-5. Ballymote suddenly came into the game at this point, however - and by half time the deficit was down to just two points, thanks in part to a goal from Marty Underwood. The half time score was Easkey 3-5, Ballymote 1-9.
Ballymote made a few changes at half time, introducing the young Colin Byrne into the fray, and immediately took the game to their opponents, dominating them for most of the proceedings. Byrne added a second goal and three excellent frees taken from the ground, and Ballymote soon raced into a six point lead. A setback came at this stage, when Easkey scored their fourth goal of the game, and only their second score of the second half to reduce the deficit to three points. Ballymote soon took control again, scoring another two points before the game drew to a close, the final score Ballymote 2-17, Easkey 4-6.

Barnes was not even at the Ballymote game actually, I believe he was on holiday in Spain this week.

Was at the ballymote game on sunday - and I have to say that I've never witnessed a poorer display than Easkey's in all my time of watching football. Ballymote were at nowhere near full strength - with several prominent players rested, and could have easily won by more than the cricket score this contest was.
Within ten - twenty seconds of the throw-in, Ballymote were a goal up, shambolic defending resulting in Peter Lyons fisting the ball into the back of the net. Easkey failed to even mount an attack until the twenty minute mark, where they registered one of only five scores they got all match. Before that, poor finishing was the only thing that kept this tie respectable within that time - with the team determined to score goals instead of taking their points. Fergal Sexton, playing in a full forward role in a strange move, was then brought down in the box for a penalty - although its possible he had crossed the line before he was brought down. Derek Tighe converted the penalty afterwards - and Ballymote never looked back from there on.
The second half was quite a tedious affair, with torrential rain coming down constantly, but Ballymote continued in similar fashion, winning by a comfortable scoreline of 2-18 to 1-4. I don't think that Easkey even registered a single point in the second half.
Less than six weeks to a must-win game against Gaels in the Championship, and this performance, although a stroll in the park - can do wonders for the confidence of the team - which had seemed to be lacking against Harps two weeks ago.

On another note, it seems Tourlestrane have given up the ghost entirely - with several of their key players now in Boston for six weeks to two months... a battering by Harps will certainly not help things. I believe however, that seven of the first team were missing, and a certain former All-Star turned up twenty minutes after the game had got underway. Its a pity, after showing such promising signs early on in this campaign.

Can anyone confirm if the Sligo Mayo game is live on T.V as im afraid im out of the country and wont make it back for McHale Park. I have heard conflicting stories that it may be shown on RTE2.

Ballymote's recent good form continues with a 2 point victory over Geevagh, leaving Tourlestrane all but out of the competiton - a point against Gaels will now see Ballymote through to the quarters. The worrying fact for me about recent games is Ballymote's tendency to sit back with fifteen men behind the ball for the last ten minutes - it cost them against Tourlestrane, and indeed nearly did the same thing against a battling Geevagh side who might feel slightly aggrieved. Had they not missed an open goal in the first half, things may have been very different.
Two great first half goals from McTiernan and McGowan had Ballymote leading at the interval - 2-06 to 0-8 points. However, a poor return of only four points in the second half let Geevagh back into the game, but Ballymote hung on to claim a 2-10 to 0-14 victory on the day - their first Championship win in 11 games... or five years. Perhaps this win will encourage the side to take games by the throat and finish off teams - rather than sitting back and letting them back into it.

Another interesting note was a minor fracas in the closing stages that nearly escalated into an all out brawl when a supporter from the Geevagh side became involved - throwing punches at one of the Ballymote lads. There was absolutely no need for this, and the referee dealt with it quite well, booking the two initial players - and throwing the supporter out.