Messages

Seanie, I see from the match report in the Irish Times that Paul Taylor came on and scored three points. Is this correct?

I'm with Mayo4Sam on this one. Seanie I dont see why 'ads like this' annoy you so much. Undoubtedly, touting for country players by clubs such as Na Fianna is sickening but they usually seek out players that would be operating at a fairly high level. Plus, I've never heard of them advertise on a forum like this. Ads like this are for Junior clubs and as someone who just doesnt have the time to go all the way to Sligo every weekend to play some football, I think that having the opportunity to play in Dublin is great.

There's the very real prospect of clippin' in that Farnan's v Pat's game too...

My first game of the year was last Sunday in the Park and I have to say I was reasonably impressed. I was disappointed that Quinn wasn't playing because I was hoping to get a look at him to see what sort of shape he is in. Prior to his time away from the county set up Kieran Quinn was never a slow player and I doubt very much he has lost all his pace in the meantime. At his best he did look a wee bit awkward and lanky but he was very effective. Also I don't think it is fair to judge him so early in his first year back. If he gets a run free of injury we should be seeing a much improved player come May. O'Neill, for me, would not make the the top 20 players on the panel but I would completely disagree with anyone who asserts that he lacks pace. As for Taylor, well by all accounts, as Seanie has said, he is a great club player but there is no doubt that he has failed to deliver at county level. However, I remember Paul Durcan in his early days when he was nothing to behold in the middle of the park. In fact (I was going to say "as recently as") in 1997 against Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final he couldn't have caught a cold that day. His handling was terrible and he consistently dropped any balls that he did get a hand to. Nevertheless he was a terrific worker around the field and never gave up. Maybe Taylor needs to improve his workrate a wee bit and hopefully in time his all-round game will improve. As for him hiding, I think that any player playing for any county would be dropped fairly promptly if they are in the business of hiding.
Getting back briefly to the game on Sunday, I seem to remember someone saying that they thought Brendan Egan had a great game on Sunday. There's no doubt that he covered alot of ground but I felt that it wasn't until the last fifteen minutes that he started to become effective by getting some hits and tackles in. I dont remember him winning much ball at midfield at all. I thought the corner backs were very good, as was Noel McGuire. The only fault I could find with Noel is that when the ball came across the box for the goal I thought he might have competed slightly better for it, or at least leant into his man to put him off but I'm being fussy. Kenneth Sweeney has a great foot on him and all he needs is a glimpse of the posts. Phillip Greene was confident and assured and made one terrific save and his kickouts could not be faulted. In the second half Phillip Gallagher put in a huge amount of work and I was mightily impressed with his conversion from a corner back. All-in-all it was a good performance. However, I dont think Waterford are world beaters and Sligo let them back into the game at various stages. One thing that concerned me was the ease with Waterford were able to work their way upfield and conjure up goal chances. Do you guys think the dismissal of O'Hara had anything to do with this? Or maybe our injuries were the problem?

i think we found out to our fustation last year how muc you can experiment without chaging personell remember the nut?
may be he trying to find a style 1st and then fit the players into it. last year was chais at time s looking shi£ while doing the nut and then abandoing it it and winning the games

What is this new tongue you speak with?

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.

I presume its the last high profile manager Leixlip had who jumped ship to take over the reins at a midland county. While he was at Leixlip didnt he have a stint with Carlow for a few games?