How are ye all, long time no speak.
Been very busy with a new job but thankfully things are cooling off a bit. Curious to see what the opinions are for sligo in 2007. Looks like we could have a strong (and hopefully healthy) team. Interesting article from hogan stand below.
I hear the team have been back at training for the last 6 weeks. Bid difference to last year...
No fewer than seven players, who opted out of the Sligo football squad in 2006, have returned to training in recent weeks.
Former Sligo Rovers captain Michael McNamara was first to report back for duty, and he has now been joined by Jonathan Davey, Johnny Martyn, Brendan Philips, Patrick Naughton, Brian Curran and Kieran Quinn in what is a huge boost for manager Tommy Breheny.
Breheny oversaw a big improvement in the Yeat County's fortunes in a short period of time this year and will be hoping to maintain that progress in the coming season. Having avoided Galway and Mayo in the early rounds of the Connacht championship draw, they will fancy their chances of reaching the provincial final and perhaps ending a 32-year wait for Nestor Cup honours.
Welcome back SM2. We Sligomen have been a bit quiet in recent times - personally for reasons similar to yourself, exceppt I haven't changed jobs, just been mad busy in the same place. The general vibe for next year seems positive and all seven of those guys are quality whioch building on 2006 can't be bad. Personally I wouldn't let Philips near the team - any team - but iot is certain to create competition and some physical presence and that can't be bad. Tough League campaign in prospect though - far too early to be talking about championships... although you will see them first in that context - May 13 I believe. Book up that mental hospital pitch again - not likely to be seeing commando exercises this time I'd think!!
Ddnt know Sligo had any stars - Roll on Connacht Championship 2007
This could make the Connacht comapionship very interesting.
The early signs are encouraging and the vibe from the camp appears pretty positive. The added depth to the squad is badly needed as we simply must have a good league to avoid falling back into the sad old days of Div 4 and no back door.
The rift from the Tommy Murphy Cup debacle finally seems to be behind us. I'd be quietly optimistic for a good year. We should have a decent minor team too and the appointment of Moyles is an excellent move.
All in all a lot of positives about Sligo GAA at present. Now we need it translated to the field.
What exactly is it that has Sligo people all worked up about positive vibes? Don't recall any of those returning players ever doing much of note, and the majority of Gaa fans in other counties have never heard of most of them!!! ??? If the vibes in Sligo are positive, they must be gone off the Richter Scale in Roscommon ::)
Shrewedness
a Real dedicated GAA Fan from around the country makes it his/her business to know who these players are...
Johnny Martyn is the only name there i dont know of...
Well damn i was hoping you sligoheads would struggle this year,if all is going well for yous id day its a 4 way battle between Yourselves, ourselves(Cavan),Meath and Wexford for the top two spots..
Yee look to have some very strong guys back indeed! Lookin forward to see how yee McNamara plays now that he's back, this seems his first real craic at it without distraction.
I have to say from what i hear that there is the possibility of more to come from Sligo. Is it true that a few younger Rovers or ex-Rovers players might make the step up? These guys would have been on Sligo minor panels but committed to soccer but are now candidates for inclusion on the football panel??
Sligo football is definitely going well - the FBD will have to be priority to get all the players back and playing well. Sligo should be aiming to win this cometition. Will many of these lads be on college duty in the FBD? Great times ahead.......
The Rovers thing is great altogether. The way McNamara and Conor O'Grady along with others were treated was a disgrace and thankfully its working to the GAA's favour. Hopefully some young lads will think twice about committing to them in he future.
QuoteWell damn i was hoping you sligoheads would struggle this year,if all is going well for yous id day its a 4 way battle between Yourselves, ourselves(Cavan),Meath and Wexford for the top two spots..
I know its a cliche but this league will truly be one game at a time. We start by going to Tipperary (they beat us last year) so a win there would be a good result. A loss and you're pretty much fecked. So hopefully we can get a few wins in the FBD to get the momentum going. I might even go to an FBD game this year!
QuoteIf the vibes in Sligo are positive, they must be gone off the Richter Scale in Roscommon
Long may it stay that way. Well, until June anyway.
Another lame attempt there highking. You'll have to do better!
Will u guys be hoping 4 a good run like use had a few years back with all these guys back??
Of course we'll be hoping for a good run. I think this is the first time in a long time we have practically a full panel, with a well liked and respected manager, with no distractions and with training going well.
Does anyone know if O'Grady of Flannery have a shot at making the panel??
Anyone want to take a stab at a starting 15?
I'm sure there will be many combinations which can only be a good thing
Have not heard much about the prospects of Flannery or O'Grady coming on board but I dare say Breheny has investigated the possibility. If both were playing club football and going well I imagine they'd be drafted in though both may end up at other LOI clubs yet.
Couldn't possibly pick a first XV with any confidence. The lads that are in form will get their places and we will have backup for the first time in a while. We need to avoid injuries of course.
Here goes: Greene, Harrison, Maguire, Donovan, Curran, Naughton, Doohan, O'Hara, Quinn, McNamara, Egan, McPartland, J. Davey, S. Davey, Breheny. Subs: Martyn, O'Neill, McGovern, Phillips, McGarty (think he is back?), Kelly, Marren among others.
Not bad seanie. I wouldn't change it too much.
Very encouraging to see that we have 5 players (in my opinion) that could be considered for mid-field - Quinn, O'Hara, Mcnamara, Egan and S. Davey.
I would probably put Egan at midfield with S.Davey to begin with with Quinn at FF and O'Hara at CHF. Egan could also be considered at CHB as he is a powerful man coming forward (except he sometimes forgets to go back :) :) :))
League will be very tough but that's the way it should be...
Without getting away from the main subject is it possible for some sligo boy to gimme an idea what happened with Sligo Rovers and some the players and the way they were treated? just a quick synopsis!
Very simple,
The new manager wanted them to turn professional and drop their day jobs. They were smart enough to say no. How much would that pay anyway??
Has Dessie retired?
Sadly think Dessie has been forced to retire from intercounty football. Very few players countrywide let alone from Sligo can have as high an average score in Croke Park as Dessie and I hope, but am slightly worried, that the importance of Dessie to the team of 2002 won't be forgotten.
In my mind the most significant returnees are Quinn and Naughton. Quinn is the only Sligo footballer big enough and good enough to anchor midfield. (O Hara, Egan ,Mc Namara or Davey are no more than 6ft ). Naughton has for the last few years been the standout club footballer in Sligo playing at centre half back. He has never been given a run there for Sligo and simply most spend the leaue there. Mc Namara is a fantastic addition to the panel but has to yet deliver at intercounty level. Afully fit and focused Mc Garty is a much better addition ( dont know if he is back either,Seanie ??). Fully agree with the spine of your team, Seanie. Possibly could argue that Mc Govern and O Neill are better than Curran ( though agree Curran is a back) and that Kelly has more to offer than McPartland( a centre half forward or nowhere in my opinion) but to be honest these are all so close that one can't quibble.
Finally delighted with Moyles appointment as Minor manager. Perhaps its the Christmas season but it makes me full of optimism for the summer.
Happy Christmas.
QuoteHas Dessie retired?
Not sure if he has retired or not but I believe he intended last year to be his last in a county jersey. He was pretty effective with his club last season but old father time and a string of injuries is catching up on him. One of the best ever in a Sligo shirt in my view.
QuoteFinally delighted with Moyles appointment as Minor manager
This is a great move. I've heard from a few lads in his school (now he has been let train the lads) that he is first class. The big gripe with minor teams over the last few years in my view has been that they got the selection 75% right and then accomodated their own fellas. Should not be an issue this time.
It's great to see the Sligo heads surfacing again on this forum. Of course, we must temper our new found enthusiasm somewhat but certainly we appear to have an interesting year ahead of us. The difference this year for Sligo is that it is imperative we hit the ground running from day one in the league - We all know the implications of a bad showing in the league. I wonder will this result in the team peaking a bit too soon? It seems to me that because the final league standings will have an impact on the avenues open to us in the championship players are under increased pressure to perform every week from february right through to the summer. What do you all think?
As for Flannery and O'Grady, I doubt they will be back although Flannery might when his injury clears up. Neither have really shown well when brought into the senior set-up and I would be inclined to think that hasn't changed. I dont think Michael McNamara is a great footballer but I hope he proves me wrong this year. As Seanie will know (from our scrapes on this board regarding Rovers) I follow Sligo Rovers too. McNamara was found wanting quite a few times this year and he seems to lose concentration or switch off during games. Also, the few championship games he played for Sligo I didn't think he stood out. Nevertheless, let me reiterate I hope he proves me wrong and I am also cognisant of the fact that Gaelic Football is a completely different game to Soccer. I'm sure I will get eaten for making that point!!! ;)
Sigoman2 I would tend to disagree with you on your hypothetical placing of Quinn at full forward. I remember watching a league game or two with him in that position and he looked lost. He represents, for me, the most significant addition to the panel. I think he is a fantastic footballer and will be a huge addition to the centre-field unit. All-in-all, if the new additions can earn their places on the first fifteen, I think we will have a very physical half-forward/midfield and not bad footballers either. I would agree with teeling gaels as regards to Naughton - play him at centre back where he's at his best. As Sligoman2 pointed out, the tendency of Egan to forget to track back when he is at centre-back should be enough reason to leave him in the half-forward line. I thought our full back line was perfectly fine last year and the extra year will bring them on well. Davey, I feel, can be potentially a good full-forward and I think that is where he should be placed. At least some of his errors will not have detrimental consequences up there plus his strength and athletic ability will cause full-backs problems.
I dont know if I dreamt this but I was sure that Dessie had announced his retirement from inter-county football earlier in the year. Now that I think of it I may be confusing that with his withdrawal from the panel during the summer. Either way I would doubt that Dessie will return this year. Moreover, I hope I wasn't dreaming about Dessie Sloyan as this would mark a new, and worrying, departure.
When I first heard that Michael Moyles was named the manager of the minor team I did have some reservations and I still do with regard to his experience on the line. However, I do recognise that is important that we rid ourselves of the favouritism which has been part and parcel of minor selection over the years in Sligo. Also, I know that the new man at the helm on Bórd na nÓg had stated his intentions to address this problem by bringing in an outside man. Of course, reality is that it would be difficult for Sligo to attract a proven outside manager for the minor position so I suppose, at the very least, this is a step in the right direction. I do wonder though would it have been possible to appoint a proven club manager from outside the county?
Thats, my lot. Nollaig Shona folks.
Quote from: magpie seanie on December 20, 2006, 09:31:06 AM
One of the best ever in a Sligo shirt in my view.
Wouldn't be qualified to comment, but certainly one of the more important members of the 02 team for Sligo. Always was a great talent, he was in Muredeachs at a time when there were other fantastic footballers, when I think of the players of that era it annoys me still. With a bit of organisation and proper coaching there was a team there could have won all before them. Anyway, don't want to hijack the thread, all the best to ye for '06
Good to see all the Sligonians coming back on board, thought it was just going to be the long-standing trio in situ here for a while. Plenty of reasons for optimism for 2007, with the return of the numerous absentees, and also thanks to our friends down at the Showgrounds (there's something you won't hear too often!). We certainly need all available talent as the league will be tricky, Meath may be a home tie, but we do have trips to Cavan, Wexford and to the 'Easkey' of intercounty football venues, Aughrim. Top four is a must, but promotion can be achieved this time. A tilt at Connacht isn't beyond us either, it's only Roscommon in the semi-final anyway.
Quote from: magpie seanie on December 19, 2006, 04:48:00 PM
Here goes: Greene, Harrison, Maguire, Donovan, Curran, Naughton, Doohan, O'Hara, Quinn, McNamara, Egan, McPartland, J. Davey, S. Davey, Breheny. Subs: Martyn, O'Neill, McGovern, Phillips, McGarty (think he is back?), Kelly, Marren among others.
Can't find any real fault with Seanie's lineup there, Quinn and McNamara are huge additions, and having Naughton back fully fit also. As regards SM2's suggestions re Davey, I think we''ll put him somewhere where he can't be of any further benefit to the opposition, so FF looks like the only option left. Speaking of same, I notice he has the season's collected trophies on 'display' for passers-by, very wise idea that, especially in enemy territory! It's fair to say the bench doesn't look too bad in terms of options either, a contrast to recent years. It's all to look forward to.
Nice alright to be talking about Sligo football againfor a change. I'd prefeace any remarks on the merits of who should or should not be in the team by saying firstly that although I would have seen them up close and regularly up to 2003, I've seen very little of any of these lads in the flesh, and ceratinly not regularluy, in the past three years. IMO, McNamara has the potentila to be a lethal FF, but it will take time. He was first on the Sligo panel in '02 and went into it having been out for a year with a cruciate IIRC and his first ever game of gaelic football at senior level at any level was coming on as a sub in eithet the Tyrone or the drawn Armagh game. He made a futrther 10 minute appearance in Navan before getting into the team in '03. My point is that he is very raw despite not being so young and that we should not expect too much too soon but that the potential is enormous.
Quinner is a MF pure and simple and a great head and presence. He's not enough of a footballer to be at FF. For straight up mean minded defending I'd have Martyn before Harrison and it's saying a lot about the quality of competition when you can consider leaving McGovern off. Agree Curran is best at HB, but would have a similar view of J Davey. Johhny McP ghas an interesting year ahead of him. For me he was one of, if not the key man in '02 / '03 - remember the power running and the passing over long distances. He's never since reached those heights.
If TB can get these motivated to do what they can, andf have nearly done before, the technicasl capability ois there. Right now I'd far rather be where TB is than where J O'M is.
I personally dont think QUINN is the saviour everyone thinks he is. He is so slow. I dont rate naughton that highly either. Average enough.
My starting 15 would be:
Greene
Donovan
Mcguire
Harrison
martyn
mcgovern
J Davey
O Hara
Doohan
Curran
Brehony
Egan
Kelly
Davey
Mcnanamra
Subs
mcpartland,quinn,phillips,naughton, marren, t taylor, o neill, sweeney,, gallagher,p taylor
Very optimistic about this year. Lets just worry about ourselves. Plenty of youth experience pace and talent. Best squad for years. We could win div 2. We have better team than Ros just will have the belief on the day. Will we leave our best football till qualifiers or we will for once do it in connaught.
Sligonian,
I can't wait for magpie's reaction to that lineup.
I've mellowed over the years Sligoman2.
Welcome to the board Sligonian.