Sligo Sport

OCTOBER 2015, ISSUE 1, VOLUME 1

EMMETT DUNLEAVY

MIND READY, MIND SET? - IF NOT WHY NOT? Mind Coaching with John Graham

The accomplished athlete & running coach talks to us about training, mental discipline and turning his passion into his career.

Surf 2 Heal

Target Shooting

Bringing surfing to young people with Autism

at Lough Bo

Shooting The Hoop with Pau Vilá and the Sligo All Stars Autocross at Langan Quarries

Carrowmore Archery at Ballincarrow

Innisfree Ladies Tour of Lough Gill Cycle

Connacht Mtb Championships

County Sligo Harriers Childrens Hunt

• Running • Cycling • Hill Walking • Kayaking • Basketball • Archery • Mountain Biking • Equine Events • Boxing • Hiking • Rallying • Karate • Surfing • Fishing • Shooting • Handball • Sailing • Workouts • Tennis • Horse Racing • Canine Agility • and much more!

2

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

OCTOBER Your critical guide to sports contents

and lesire activities in Sligo W

elcome to the very first edition of Sligo Sport. This is Sligo’s first dedicated sports paper and from here on it will be published monthly and will be available in most outlets throughout the county on the first week of each month.

Sligo Sport will act in partnership with sports associations and participants. Our aim is to focus particularly on so called minority sports, school sports and young people's sports clubs.

It will also report on all other sports.

Sligo Sport plans to provide a monthly results service for most of the sports taking place in Sligo. With numerous sports and leisure associations catering for the sporting needs of Sligo's growing population, Sligo Sport will give these clubs coverage.

It will have regular coverage of cycling, surfing, fishing, autocross, rallying, road races, gymnastics and endurance sports. It will offer similar coverage to basketball, tennis, rowing, boxing, equine events, golf,pitch and putt and much much more. It will include leisure pages covering sports fashion, training and nutritonal tips.

In this months issue we catch up with Emmett Dunleavey.

Emmet is an accomplished athlete, running coach and the brains behind Perfect Pacing.com, a personal coaching service which tailors the training techniques of the elite to suit all levels of runners. Here he talks to Kate Winter about training, mental discipline and turning his passion into his career.

We also talk to Noirin Kelly a hairdresser and running enthusiast from Dromard, Co Sligo, who is currently in training for her first marathon. She talks about her journey so far.

Sligo’s All-Stars basketball club is reaching for the sky. Having already produced a number of national players, they’re striving for even greater successes and they’ve just recruited their newest team member, in Spanish coach Pau Vilá. We caught up with the Catalonian to hear about his plans for the club, and get the story so far.

Hardly a day passes when we don’t hear about the benefits of the right mindset from the world’s elite sports stars. Be it Rory McIlroy when losing the Masters or winning the US Open or Rob Kearney talking about mindfulness and the potential 1% difference. Inside mindcoach John Graham explains the benefits of having the correct mindset.

This along with lots more makes Sligo Sport one you cannot miss.

8

WOMEN TAKING THE INITIATIVE Sligo Triathlon Club

10

EMMETT DUNLEAVY Emmett Dunleavy is an accomplished athlete, running coach and the brains behind Perfect Pacing.com - He talks to Kate Winter about training, mental discipline and turning his passion into his career.

12

SLIGO SURF 2 HEAL 2015 Surf 2 Heal, an initiative created to provide surfing for young people with Autism has now been firmly established as an annual event in Sligo.

15

SEA FISHING AROUND SLIGO

22

SLIGO ASTRO TURF LEAGUES Kevin Egan and Sligo Rovers Leagues

20

SHOOTING THE HOOP WITH PAU VILÁ AND THE SLIGO ALL STARS Sligo’s All-Stars basketball club is reaching for the sky, they’ve just recruited their newest team member, in Spanish coach Pau Vilá. We caught up with the Catalonian to hear about his plans for the club, and get the story so far.

23

CONNACHT MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONS

24

DAVID GILLICK’S KITCHEN, FROM TRACK TO TABLE

28

CONNACHT MOTOR CLUB AUTOCROSS AT LAGAN QUARRIES

30

MIND READY, MIND SET? IF NOT WHY NOT? With John Graham - Mind Coach

31

SLIGO MAN TO REPRESENT IRELAND AT DARTS WORLD CUP IN TURKEY

32

‘EVERYONE THAT COULD JUMP SHIP, DID’: CONNACHT’S REFUSAL TO LIE DOWN

36

NOIRIN KELLY Noirin Kelly is a hairdresser and running enthusiast from Dromard, Co Sligo, who is currently in training for her first marathon.

She answers some of Kate Winter’s questions about the journey so far.

Seamus Casey - Editor We would love if your club could submit pictures and reports on what is happening in your organisation on a regular basis and we will be sure to include it. It is important that we get as much involvement from clubs such as yours from the get go so any info you have please send it to seamus@sligosport.ie or feel free to contact me on 085 2498067.

Managing Director/Editor: Seamus Casey seamus@sligonow.ie Design: Stephen Finney steve@sligonow.ie

Sales: Alan Gaffney alan@sligosport.ie Richie Brady richie@sligosport.ie Lisa Gilmartin lisa@sligosport.ie

Editorial: Kate Winter Eamon O’Neill John Graham Cian Love Patrick McCarry

Photography: Jordan Cummins Patrick Regan jumpingthegun.com outdoorfitnesssligo.com Cian Love Sportsfile

Published by: Alphabet Media Ltd, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo F91 NX0T Tel/Fax: 071-9154538 Web: www.sligosport.ie Email: info@sligosport.ie

The information in Sligo Sport is carefully researched and believed to be accurate, but the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Statements or opinions expressed herein are not necessary those of the editor or publisher. Advertisements within the publication are not endorsed by the publisher. Neither are any claims made within the advertisements. Before consuming any products mentioned in the publication readers are advised to consult with their general practitioner or equivalent professional for opinion or advice.

SUP PARADISE

PHOTOGRAPH: STEVE ROGERS PHOTOGRAPHY - SUPFORALL

Visiting Hawaiian Jane Culp, in Sligo specifically to Stand Up Paddle with SUPforall and their SUP K9 José

4

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

NORTHWEST OFFSHORE RACING ASSOCIATION 2015 A GREAT SUCCESS IN THE MALINWATERS

H

ighlight of the cruiser racing season in Donegal Bay was the Northwest Offshore Racing Association (NORA) Championships 2015 which was jointly hosted at the end of August by Mullaghmore Sailing Club, Killybegs Sailing Club and Sligo Yacht Club on the Wild Atlantic Way. The event began in Mullaghmore with the Mullaghmore Regatta. The fleets

were split into spinnaker-flying, and white sails fleets. 17 boats took to the water in perfect weather conditions – steady breezes and sunshine. The festival atmosphere extended onshore in Mullaghmore with the sailing club hosting a ‘pig on a spit’ dinner for sailors and supporters which was a huge success. After this regatta, SYC boats were to the fore, with Martin Reilly’s ‘Crazy Horse’ leading followed by Ken

Draper, sailing Gerry Brady’s J24 “Gossip”.

On the following Friday, there was a pursuit race from Mullaghmore to Killybegs in County Donegal. Again it looked like SYC boats were going to take all the podium positions, but a smart tactical move by MSC’s Brody Sweeney sailing ‘An tOileanach’, saw him take a wider line and sail past the J24s and cross the line in Killybegs harbour first.

The planned race from Killybegs to Rosses Point had to be abandoned due to the weather conditions, so the fleet made their way to the Point whenever suited them for the final stage of NORA 2015 – the Memory Harbour Regatta.

Winner of the Memory Harbour Regatta was John Buckley’s “Jota”. The overall spinnaker fleet winner of NORA 2015 was Ken Draper helming “Gossip”, while Martin Reilly’s “Crazy Horse” won on IRC handicap system. Second place was taken by MSC’s Michael Carvill’s “Lazy Bones”.

Overall winner of the white sails fleet for the second consecutive year was Jonathan Kennedy and crew on ‘All Hours’.

St. John's receive Kits for Kids from Supervalu

The St. John's team pictured in Supervalu Ballisodare recently for the presentation of playing gear to the club as part of Supervalu's Kits for Kids Promotion ran in store during the summer.

Back row left to Michael Hegarty, Sarah McNamara, Gerry Quinn, Niall Gordon,James Barnicle Front row: Brian McNamara, Ciaran Quinn, Ronan Hegarty & James Dylan Barnicle The St. John's team were presented with the Supervalu Kits for Kids Promotional G.A.A. gear by Cecil Whiteside Supervalu Ballisodare (third from left in the back row).

What is included in the Supervalu O’Neill’s juvenile kit 10 training balls 2 ball sacks 24 water bottles with 4 carriers (6 bottles per set) 20 training bibs 20 backpacks* 1 speed ladder 1 sports marker set with 40 markers 1 large kit bag

Coach Education Courses If your GAA club is looking to run a Coach Education course in October/November 2015 please contact Liam Og Gormley on 0868254420

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 5 SLIGO PLAYERS WHO REPRESENTED THE CLUB ON THE CONNACHT UNDER 18'S V LEINSTER LAST SATURDAY. WELL DONE TO KUBA WOJTKOWIEZ, ROSS HICKEY, ADRIAN CUMMINS, NIALL GRAY & MARK KEEGAN.

North West Physiotherapy

Chartered Physiotherapists Shirley Foley MISCP Mary Mulvany MISCP Ray Finan MISCP

Details for courses • Minimum of 14 coaches per course (Foundation & Award 1) • Cost (Foundation €20 per coach) (Award 1 €50 per coach) • Hours per course (Foundation 7 hours) (Award 1, 14 hours) •Facilities needed (Indoor hall and room for theory)

Upper Pearse Road, Sligo • Tel: 071-9162334 /9171912 Email: info@northwestphysio.ie www.northwestphysiotherapy.com North West Physiotherapy Sligo

Sports and Exercise Medicine Clinic Assess • Diagnose • Treat • Rehab

• Sports Injuries • Back and Neck Pain • Orthopaedics • Manual Therapy • Trigger point dry needling • Flexibility Assessments • Orthotics Clinic Times: Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm

6

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

A Blast from the Past....

RIGHT ON CUE

Anybody who remembers basketball in sligo in the late 90s will remember Gordon Winchester. He was one of the greatest, most consistent players to grace our courts. Recently Sligo All Stars welcomed the return of the man himself. He dropped in to say hello while visiting from New York. A living legend and true gentleman it was great to see him back at the club he played with in the 97 and 98 seasons. A small presentation was made to Gordon to say thank you for his years at the Club. Gordon is now a fire fighter at the New York Fire Department

T

he snooker season is underway in Sligo with a handicapped competition every Friday night in the Embassy with up to 50 players expected to take part each week. This event is run to a conclusion each week in the best of a one frame format.

Snooker has always enjoyed a long-standing tradition in Sligo down through the years. Back in the day it was the old Gilhooly hall or the CYMS club at the town hall.

There are also sponsored handicaps during the season that are the best of three frames.

Ladies are welcome, but under-18’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Anyone interested can contact Ronnie Cawley at 086-0770793 or Colm McDonagh.

SPORT GUARDS, BITE GUARDS & BLEACHING TRAYS ADA provides a range of sports and mouth guards and other retainers with our easy to use self impression kits.

Mouth guards, which are now mandatory for GAA players, can be bought over the counter but these are not recommended by dentists or us at ADA dental laboratory due to their insufficient protection. Proper sports guards are custom made to the dental impression taken from the player and guarantee a secure fit.

Advanced Dental Aesthetics • 28/29 Castle Street, Sligo F91 E820 • Tel: 087-4558741 • www.adadentallab.ie • info@adadentallab.ie

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

7

8

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Women Taking the Initiative

S

ligo Triathlon Club has run the Women’s Initiative for the last 5 consecutive years. To marry up with the ethos of the club it’s to give anyone no matter the background an avenue back into sport.

This year 41 women are embracing the challenge.

The initiative takes women from all sorts of backgrounds.

Many of whom require a helping hand back into sport.

The age range is varied but participants must be over the age of 18 to enter and never have completed a Try a Tri or Triathlon previously. The Initiative is funded by Sligo Sports and Recreation

Partnership and could not operate without their funding and assistance in marketing the event.

The Initiative runs over a six week period with the culmination of a Try a Tri for the competitors at the end of their training. This takes places at the Sligo Sports Center, where women are required to complete a 250m swim. 10km bike ride and a 4km run.

The training for the Initiative is run by Sligo Triathlon Club coaches. The women are trained in all three disciplines twice a week over the six weeks. The swim training and brick (bike & run) training on two separate evenings. There

is also education on mindset and nutrition. The women taking part must have some swimming ability as the course is not for ‘non swimmers’. The brick sessions are a combination of run skills, strength and conditioning, core work as well as basic bike skills.

The Sligo Triathlon Women’s Officer is the backbone of the Initiative. It was recognized that women require support in accessing sporting clubs whilst also giving women the confidence to participate in other sporting events going forward. This year’s women’s Officer is Kate Hawney.

She has led the Women’s

Initiative for the previous three years. ‘It is such a pleasure to be involved in this Initiative. It is a humbling experience to see the growth in confidence over the six weeks. The initiative gives women a helping hand back into sport as well as facilitating new friendships. Women become role models for their friends, partners, children and family members. For many it is a healthy lifestyle change that brings about an increased awareness of the benefits of sport. ‘ Inherent to the success of the programme is the mentoring system. The mentors keep the

If you’re not in you cannot win

S

Carrick Indoor Karting were delighted to be given the opportunity recently to raise money for much needed services at Irish Cancer Society. A great time was had by all, with some great lap times recorded on the day.

ligo All-Stars Basketball Club are excited to announce the launch of their 300 Club fundraiser which will provide members with a chance to win up to €1,000 in each of their quarterly draws.

Sligo All Stars Basketball Club is unique in Ireland by employing a full time Basketball coach with International experience which ensures Club members get the very best quality basketball coaching.

The Clubs Goal is to provide National League Basketball for both Men and Women while maintaining a long term sustainable basketball club. The 300 Club Draw will aim to use the proceeds it raises (after prizes are paid out) as follows: *To Develop the Club as a leading Basketball Club in Ireland.* *To subsidise annual coaching costs, hall rental and tournament costs. * A percentage of funds raised will be retained to fund future infrastructure and facilities required to ensure the long term future of Sligo All-Stars Basketball Club.

The first draw is in December and to be included please email 300Allstars@gmail.com before the end of September to be in with a chance of winning some great prizes and supporting your local club.”

programme real and alive as they experienced the Initiative the year previous.

They act as role models for the up and coming triathletes, as well as offering practical support and encouragement.

This year the Women’s Initiative Try a Tri will take place at the Sligo Sports Complex Oct 18th at 11am.

The bike and run takes place across the road in the park. It is an opportunity for everybody to see what can happen when you take on a goal, push boundaries and reach your target. Lets go along and support those brave women!

EMMETT 10

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

DUNLEAVY E

mmett Dunleavy is an accomplished athlete, running coach and the brains behind Perfect Pacing.com, a personal coaching service which tailors the training techniques of the elite to suit all levels of runners. He has won numerous national titles in track and cross country, trained with some of the best athletes in distance running and represented Ireland several times. Here he talks to Kate Winter about training, mental discipline and turning his passion into his career.

BORN TO RUN I started running when I was about eleven. I would have done Community Games, and I ran for Ballisodare school. I came third in Connaught in the Schools Championship. Then the athletics club in Sligo got onto me after that and it went on from there. To be honest, when I was younger, I had pretty limited success until I was about seventeen. I wouldn’t have been the most talented, but I trained reasonably hard. And at that age, training will start to trump natural ability.

In some cases, as a guy said to me once, training will never put in what God left out. A lot of it is down to pure luck, really, when it comes to excellent athletes. They’ve won the genetic lottery. If you make an Olympic final, you’ve obviously trained really hard to get there, but you’d also have been blessed with a perfect gene pool for athletics too. There are things like lung capacity, or high haemoglobin and iron levels, which can come through generations of living at high altitude, or a slight genetic disposition towards something like sprinting, like you would find in West African or Caribbean athletes.

I was determined. It was just a case of keeping building up training. With any endurance sport it’s about consistency over long periods of time.

That’s ultimately what makes you improve. It took a few years to pay dividends, but it did eventually.

DETERMINATION AND DRIVE Everybody has the ability to run a marathon. It’s just a matter of how fast. My philosophy has always been that no matter what level you are at, getting the most out of

yourself. Whether that’s trying to run a four hour marathon, or trying to make the National Championships, or the Olympic Games, the most important thing is to get the most out of yourself. And unless you’re training correctly and doing everything a hundred percent right with full commitment, you don’t know how far you could get.

Everybody has the ability... It’s just that sometimes the top six inches are the hardest part.

When you’re competing at high levels, being mentally focussed makes a huge difference. Ultimately,

athletics is about taking as much pain as you can, for extended periods of time.

Mental focus is highly important in everyday life, too. The actual racing is often the easy part. It’s running 80 or 90 miles a week, week in week out, for months or years on end which is the hard part.

You have to set your life up in a certain way, if you want to be competitive at a high level.

MAKING IT WORK I left financial trading two years ago. I got married three years ago, and I left my old

job before I went on honeymoon. I was due to start a new job when I arrived back. But I got a phone call while I was away saying that the job had fallen through. So I did a little bit of financial work on my own steam for a wee while, but I started the coaching as a second income stream. I found myself passionate about applying the principles of professional athlete training, toned down a little, to all levels of runners.

The whole thing took off in the space of a few months and Perfect Pacing has been going from strength to

strength since... I suppose everything happens for a reason.

I now have athletes all over the country, and one or two in the UK too. I’d be on the road quite a bit during the week. Because I’m from here I tend to be better known around these parts so I have lots of athletes here in Sligo and I’m up and down a fair bit. I’ve also started working with Athletics Ireland doing some of their National Junior Camps, bringing together some of the most talented juniors from each province for weekends of training.

TRAINING IN DUNBEAKIN

Photo: Steve Rogers Photography

11

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015 SLIGO 5K

Photo: Carl Brennan / Sligo Champion

We just did the first one of those down in Mayo this weekend, so that’s something new and very different.

CHANGING TIMES Running has become more acceptable. When I first started running, I lived in Dromore West and there was literally no runner from Ballisodare to Ballina. You’d be running down the road and people would be like “Get this lad a football”.

Whereas now, it’s become the norm. There’s loads of runners in Sligo and lots of good races on every year.

The Warriors Run is one of them. It’s bonkers! If it wasn’t in Sligo I’d probably never have attempted it. I won in 2011, at a time of fifty five minutes sixteen, but the year after that I beat my time by a full minute and only finished second. It’s probably the best atmosphere you’ll find at a race anywhere in the country every year, because really, it’s about completion. And the novelty of having a massive mountain slapped in the middle of a road race!

FIGHTING FIT Diet is very important. There are times of the year when you can be a little bit more relaxed with it, when you’re really just logging miles, but when you’re getting ready for track season in June, July, August and for the two months before that, diet is very specific. I know what works for me and I do have to be pretty strict, getting to my race weight. Alcohol is a nono during serious training. And

then when you do go back to having a few pints, you’re a seriously cheap date!

A typical day of training sees me do a run in the early morning, between forty five minutes and an hour and again in the evening, and a gym session. It changes every day though. I probably do about ten run sessions a week and two to three gym sessions. When I’m getting to peak season the training gets

a little more specific and intense - faster and harder.

But that’s the pinnacle of the year. Over a nine month period you are gradually increasing to that intensity, bit by bit. The session I did in Kenya the week before I started racing this season, if I were to try to do that now, I simply wouldn’t be able.

I’ve been over to Kenya training five or six times.

Mainly for altitude. For

distance runners, spending periods of time above two thousand metres altitude is excellent. You need to stay up there for about three weeks and your blood adapts. Because the oxygen is less there, you’re forced to produce more red blood cells to compensate. As a result of having more red blood cells, when you come back to sea level, it makes a huge difference in terms of performance. For the first two or three days you’re back you feel like you could run without breathing. On the other hand, the first ten days up there are really hard. When I go up there, I go from a six minute mile average to an eight minute mile average at the same heart rate.

IN YEARS TO COME Hopefully I can coach for the rest of my days. I’m thirty four now, and as far as competing at this level goes, I should be able to keep going until my late thirties. But I will always run every day, just to clear my head and for the feel-good factor.

I’d be pretty professional and diligent in my approach to nutrition and massage. I do a lot of strength and conditioning work, as I have had a few injuries over the past couple of years, but that’s what happens as you get older, it’s natural! You’ve just got to iron out these little issues. I’d be in the gym lifting reasonably heavy weights now, on top of the running training. Without that, I’d break down. You do the things you have to do.

In terms of long term health implications, there’s not any big risks. What grabs headlines is when people suffer heart attacks or pass away during a strenuous run.

But that’s actually only one in two or three hundred thousand people, and in most cases, there was probably an underlying heart issue there in the first place. In fact, this training increases your bone density, and gives you a much stronger heart and lungs. Most of the risks and injuries are just muscular. I’ve had a few stress fractures, maybe five or six, from too much training. They sound dramatic but they’re actually not that sore! They just stop you from training. Most of the problems I’ve had have been with calf or achilles tears. And there’s nothing you can do about that.

PERSONAL BEST I know all my personal best times off the top of my head to the hundredth of a second. One minute fifty three for eight hundred metres. Three minutes forty seven for fifteen hundred metres. Eight minutes sixteen for three kilometres and fourteen minutes thirty five for five kilometres. Running for Ireland is probably the pinnacle of my career. I wouldn’t be a regular on the national team but I’ve been lucky enough to put on a green singlet a few times.

That, to me, is the be all and end all.

These are the things you dream about when you’re a kid.

MORTON GAMES

Photo: www.jumpingthegun.com

12

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Sligo Surf 2 Heal 2015

S

urf 2 Heal, an initiative created to provide surfing for young people with Autism has now been firmly established as an annual event in Sligo. The success of Surf2Heal in Sligo is based very much on the adoption of a collaborative approach between a number of local agencies and organisations. Initiated

by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership (SSRP) through their Sports Inclusion Disability Project the programme is supported locally by County Sligo Surf Club, the Irish Surfing

Association, Sligo Autism Services and Sligo Volunteer Centre. Each organisation plays their role in the project through the provision of surfing equipment and resources and in the identification and recruitment of qualified personnel and volunteers to help deliver the programme.

Shane Hayes, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with SSRP who oversees the programme emphasized the importance of all of these key partners in making Surf 2 Heal in Sligo the success that it has

become. SSRP secured funding to purchase large foam surf boards specific to the programme, whilst a number of local surf schools provided wet suits and qualified surfing personnel who help coordinate both the beach and water safety as well as providing their surfing expertise. The Irish Surfing Association also generously gives their ISA Surf truck for the week which is invaluable in providing a base for the volunteers and instructors, as well as an ideal resource for providing much

needed refreshments for all involved. Sligo Volunteer Centre supported SSRP with assistance in the recruitment of volunteers to supervise the participants, which is a fundamental aspect of the programme. Each child is supervised and supported by up to four volunteers depending on their ability and confidence in the water, thus ensuring maximum participation, enjoyment and safety at all times. In addition, Sligo Autism Services provide key support to the programme through the training of volunteers in the area of autism awareness.

Nationally, Surf 2 Heal also support the initiative through the provision of additional surf boards, and Ray McDaid a local Surf Instructor, helps to train, monitor and coordinate the volunteers in the water. This year, Ray was supported on the beach by experienced Sligo volunteers Steve Boyle and Roisin Kelly both of whom have been involved in Surf2Heal for the past number of years and who helped to ensure adequate supervision both in the water and on the beach at all times. Having local volunteers to take on these roles helps to ensure the future sustainability of the programme at a local level.

Twenty three young people

took part in this year’s camp, held at both Streedagh in North Sligo and at Strandhill.

The participants came from a number of counties including Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal, Longford, Carlow and Roscommon, and were competently supported by over fifty volunteers from Sligo and beyond. A number of local parents commented on the fantastic job done by both organizers and volunteers and the amazing opportunity the programme provides for the young people involved. Surf 2 Heal in Sligo will continue to flourish and provide quality opportunities for young people with Autism to experience and enjoy the sport of surfing as long as the positive partnership and commitment to working together exists between all of the organisations and individuals involved. Anyone wishing to find out more about Sport for People with a disability in County Sligo or to enquire about volunteering opportunities in the area of physical activity and sport for people with disabilities can contact Shane Hayes, Sports Inclusion Disability Officer with Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership on 071 9161511 or at shane@sligopsortandrecreati on.ie

14

CONNACHT SWIM SQUAD SELECTION fantastic opportunities.

Between training, squads, Galway Swimming Performance Centre and galas the girls have a hectic year ahead reaching for their goals.

Carrie McDaid has also been selected to join the National Youth Squad after an amazing performance at the NAC in Dublin when she hit the qualifying times.

What a fantastic achievement, well done Carrie! The first “Orientation Day” for Carrie was in Dublin on October 3rd.

On another note congratulations and well

done to all of the Sligo swimmers who took part in the BC gala. There were 57 swimmers entered in 107 individual entries; Sligo swim club recorded 51 pbs (personall bests) and in addition, 35 of those entries were swimmers competing in an event for the first time. Lots of B and C level gold silver and bronze medals, and new A and B times too.

The relay teams did very well too, with Sligo coming second and third in girls u11; first and third in boys u11; and first in u13 girls and boys. All in all brilliant swimming, so early in the season.

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Ladies GAA Development Academy The opening of the Sligo Ladies Football U14, U16 and 18 Development Academy has been welcomed by one and all.

Players that participate will be exposed to top quality coaching providing them with the appropriate skills to phase into participation in a county team environment.

What is the Sligo LGFA Development Academy?

In a nutshell, the Development Academy will assist with the overall development of Ladies Gaelic Football within our County. Better players will lead to stronger clubs which in turn will develop the County as a whole.

The Development Academy will be: • An opportunity for players to be exposed to training at a higher standard • An opportunity for player development and talent identification • Promotion of a non-competitive enjoyable environment Roles of the Sligo Development Academy • Identify Talent • Build Confidence • Individual Development • Education • Building relationships/Group Spirit • Competition Preparation • Identification and Develop Weak Areas • Discipline • Building Team Cohesion/Spirit Competition Preparation If you are interested contact your local GAA club.

C

arrie McDaid and Maeve Keaney have been selected to train at the Connacht Swimming Performance Centre this year based at the Kingfisher Club in NUI Galway. This is Maeve’s third year at the centre and Carrie’s first year on the programme. It is led by swimming coach Pearse McGuigan, in conjunction with Peter Banks, National Performance Director.

The Centre is designed specifically to provide additional training hours, develop skills, provide opportunities for the best

swimmers to train together on a weekly basis and provide support to club, coaches and athletes. A total of 25 Connacht swimmers currently attend, availing of a range of sports science services: strength and conditioning; video analysis; physiology etc.

Sligo Swim club have three swimmers selected for this year’s Connacht Squad. Along with Carrie and Maeve is Eanna O’Hara. A huge well done to all three for securing a place on the squad and we hope it brings you some

Confederation of Golf in Ireland hosting Networking Seminar at Sligo Golf Club on October 13th The Confederation of Golf in Ireland (CGI), the body set up to support, promote and develop the game of golf on the island of Ireland, is hosting a series of networking seminars at Golf Clubs across the country.

The Sligo event will take place at Co. Sligo Golf Club on October 13th.

As the winter draws in, the networking series has been developed by the Confederation of Golf in Ireland in a bid to ensure that Golf Clubs nationwide remain focused on their key business objectives throughout the colder months. While places are free, space is limited, so the CGI is advising those interested in attending to book in advance. Check out www.cgigolf.org/networking-seminars for booking details.

Sligo Golf Clubs are encouraged to get in contact with their Club Support Officer (CSO) in advance of the seminars and share any questions or additional topics that they would like to have discussed at the event.

Emailing in advance will ensure a smooth evening of open and relevant discussion, allowing for precise and accurate responses.

Glencar Water is a natural water from deep within the rock strata of the Dartry Mountain range

25 Litre refillable container excellent value only €10

(Fill your 500ml Bottles for only 17.8 cents)

Telephone: 071-9135553 www.glencarwater.ie

The Main Health Benefits are as follows: • Low in sodium, can be used in a low sodium diet • Low in Nitrates; associated with stomach cancer and ‘blue baby’ syndrome • High in Zinc; good for the immune system and women’s reproductive systems • Low in Aluminium; associated with Alzheimer’s Disease • Low in salts of Potassium and Calcium leading to a clean, pure taste.

There is no chemical treatment of the water at Glencar bottling; the water is bottled in its purest form

15

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

SEA FISHING AROUND SLIGO occasional bass in autumn.

Across the channel from Strandhill, Portcurry Point also yields flounder and sea trout, with a possibility of tope. Mullet can be plentiful there in hot weather. The southern outpost of Sligo Bay, Aughris Head, has good beach fishing for flounder and dogfish with possibilities of tope and ray.

FRANK AND THE CREW FROM BALLYFORAN AND DISTRICT ANGLING CLUB HAD A GREAT DAY FISHING RECENTLY WITH THE CREW FROM EWINGS SEA ANGLING AND BOAT CHARTERS

S

ligo town stands where the River Garavogue meets the sea at the head of Sligo Bay. The Bay is bounded to the north by Roskeeragh Point and to the south by Aughris Head. Its eastern coast is deeply indented by the

estuaries of the Drumcliff, Garavogue and Ballysadare rivers, all of them stripping at low tide to enormous sand flats.

All three are rich sources of lugworm and The Drumcliff estuary at Carney yields clams.

Shore angling Rosses Point, at the entrance to the inner Sligo Bay is a good spot for spinning for mackerel and sea trout in summer and can yield bass. Coney Island, at the mouth of the bay is approachable from the land only at low tide. Flounder and

sea trout can be caught in the main channel. The rocky promontory of Strandhill, surmounted by the stone age mausoleum known as Queen Maeve’s Tomb, is a popular seaside resort with a fine beach. Flatfish can be caught from its southern end and

Boat angling The Turbot Bank, 8 fathoms (15 metres) deep, lies northwest of the mouth of Ballysadare Bay and produces turbot, ray and dogfish. A better-known mark is The Ledge, 4 miles (6 km) to the west of Coney Island. Covered by 15 fathoms (27 metres), this ridge of rock, with pinnacles rising to within 5 fathoms (9 metres) of the surface, offers good pollack fishing, especially at dusk, together with ling, conger, tope and bull huss.

Wheat Rock, south of Raghley, is a source for large skate, caught on the sandy bed.

There is a small harbour on the eastern side of Aughris Head which gives access to good ray and tope fishing for the inshore boat angler.

The Bridge Club - Sligo Golf Club

T

he Bridge Club at County Sligo Golf Club is in existence for over 30 years with weekly competitions held on Monday evenings from September to Easter. The 2015/16 programme commenced on the 21st of September and will conclude on the 25th April 2016. Current membership is around 65 and new members are always welcome. Those interested can contact Bridge Captain, Mrs Stephanie Gillen ( 0877964107) Results so far this Season 21st. Sept.2015 North/South 1st. C.Gill & J.O’Brien 2nd =M.Burgess & O.Bourne 2nd = M.Heraughty & C.Johnson

East/West 1st. P.Kilcawley & G.McCafferty 2nd. E.Canning & O.Williams 3rd. A.Flanagan & A.Mullen 28 Sept. 2015 North/South 1st . O.Bodecker & P.Keyes 2nd. = O .Bourne & K.Keane 2nd. =R.Walsh& J. O’Brien 4 th. M.Kennedy & N.Faul East /West 1st. H.Demmel & J. Hargadon 2nd.= J.Noonan & H.Gillen 2nd.= M.Mc Gowan & P. Kilcawley 4th. E.Canning & O.Williams PROPOSED FIXTURE LIST 2015/16 Annual League -Nov/Dec.

Turkey Competition 7th Dec. Christmas Party 14th Dec. Resume after Christmas 11th Jan. 2016 Simultaneous Pairs 1st. Feb. Annual Charity Drive 22th Feb. Claire Griffin Trophy 14th March Captain’s Prize 18th April Captain’s Dinner 25th April COMMITTEE 2015/16 Captain: Stephanie Gillen Past Captain: Eileen Canning Vice-Captain: Olive Bodecker Hon. Secretary: Márie Dufficy Hon. Treasurer: Lynette Carty Master Points Secretary: Mary McGowan Press Officer: Catherine Johnson Committee Members: Cait Gill, Helen Clarke , Kathleen Keane & Anne Mc Gill.

North West Counselling Counselling for people with addictions eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling • ALSO COVERS GENERAL COUNSELLING • Relapse Programme • One-to-one Counselling • Referral system for private clients to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre • Addiction and General counselling available

Counsellors are professionally trained and are fully accredited or working towards accreditation.

For appointments ring: 087-2879707 OR 074-9723822 Email: tabourhouse2004@eircom.net Tabor House, Drimark, Donegal Town Afternoon, evening and weekend appointments available

Helping people to recover

16

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Carrowmore Archery Club Sligo’s only Field Archery club and is located near Ballinacarrow on land owned by Temple house

I

t is a great way to spend an afternoon, out in the woods, testing your skills in front of your peers. It is a magical feeling when you look at a target as you aim the arrow, release the string and watch the arrow fly silently through the air for a fraction of a second and then hearing the “thud” when the arrow hits the target. You cannot get that when you play Archery type roleplaying computer games like Assassin’s Creed. Now let’s be honest here, there are plenty of times when the arrow flies silently past the target and off into the undergrowth and you spend time searching for it. Very few of us are as accurate as we would like to be.

What is Field Archery? How

is it different from other disciplines? You probably only see competitive Archery on TV when the Olympics are on, where 2 Archers stand at one end and shoot at a standardised flat, circular target 70m away. They use high tech bows that have sights and stability devices, making them amazingly accurate.

Field Archery is very different. Most Archers will shoot with quite basic bows, with no aiming sights or addons. They aim instinctively and shoot at a target made from high density foam in the shape of an animal, such as a deer, fox, pheasant. There might be 18-20 targets arranged in special locations in the woods. Archers walk through the woods and shoot

up to 3 arrows at each target in sequence from a specific mark, depending on their age/type of bow (age ranges from about 8 to 80). The distance to the target can vary greatly, 15m for small targets like a pheasant, up to 40m or more for a big target like a bear. Different Clubs have different set-ups, so there is great variety in shots and targets. Scores for each target are awarded depending where you hit the target and whether you hit it with the 1st, 2nd or 3rd arrow that was shot. At the end everyone’s score is added up, and best score wins (again depending on age and type of bow).

This summer Carrowmore Archers hosted the National Championships of the Society of Irish Field Archers.

Competitors from around the country spent 2 days, in some fairly dodgy weather, pitting their skills against the different shooting challenges that the club had designed for them.

There were two separate courses with 3D animals, a long distance clout shoot (which is long distance 100plus metres shooting at a flag, the closer you get to the flag the better your score). A fourth event was a new innovation - a moving target.

The club constructed a large

pendulum where the target swings over and back for 30 seconds, each archer had 4 arrows to shoot in the 30 seconds. As we are used to having our targets nice and static this was a real challenge to everyone’s ability and provided some great entertainment.

When all the counting of scores was complete Carrowmore was well represented with Brenda Dunne, Daithi O’Connor, Alex Dunne, Aoife McGlinchey, Bronagh Holmes, Tamas Szebo all collecting medals.

Overall competition winners were presented with a Rachel

Quinn Ceramics trophy especially commissioned by the club for the championships.

If you want to know more about Carrowmore Archers you will find us on Facebook.

The club welcomes new members and organises “Have a go” events where we can teach you the basics of shooting a bow in 1 hour to anyone from 8 years old and up. We like to keep things fun, relaxed and safe but it doesn‘t take much to get our competitive side to break through.

If you are interested, message us on Facebook.

17

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

COAST 2 COAST

S

eamus Somers powered his way to a well earned first victory in the Sligo Coast to Coast 10 Mile Race. Running conditions were very favourable on what is a fast and fair course with pockets of enthusiastic supporters cheering on the competitors in what is a well organised race. Despite running into an opening headwind, Somers took an early lead from the starting line in Strandhill though he was pursued in the opening miles by a group of his Sligo AC club mates comprising of JP Carty, Martin Brennan, Ultan McNasser and Damien Kennedy. However by the 6 mile

mark, Somers, with the wind now at his back, increased his lead all the way Rosses Point to win comprehensively in 55:56 and set himself up nicely in his Dublin Marathon preparations.

Meanwhile JP Carty ran very strongly and consistently to finish 2nd in a PB 57:58. There was a good battle for 3rd between Damien Kennedy and Ultan McNasser. Kennedy, in great form for the upcoming Dublin Marathon, passed McNasser, 12th in the recent Longford Marathon, at Mile 9 but McNasser battled his way back to pip his slightly younger club mate by 2 seconds with both athletes achieving satisfying PBs of 58:22 and 58:24 respectively.

Andrew Haydu worked his way through the field to finish 5th in 1:00:03 with Martin Brennan 6th in 1:00:48. David Kearins managed to outkick Enniskillen Running Club’s Dave Slater

in the final 500 Metres to claim 7th and First M40 in 1:01:48 with Slater finishing in 1:01:55. Slater’s Enniskillen team mate Michael Walsh was 2nd M40 in 1:02:07 when he managed to pip Ray Gillen at the finish line with the North Sligo AC man claiming the 3rd M40 prize in 1:02:12 and completing the Top 10. North Sligo’s Jimmy Currid won the M50 in 1:04:58 with Michael Mooney in 1:07:00 and Michael O Boyle in 1:07:32. Mayo AC ‘s Tom Hunt won the M60 in 1:09:32 with Sligo AC’s Enda Whelan 2nd in 1:13:12 and Andrew McNabb 3rd M60 in 1:17:59.

Audrey Colreavy ran very well and was the clear winner of the Womens race in a time 1:07:49.4 with Sligo AC’s Patricia Foy 2nd in 1:09:38. Clare Quinn, in 1:13:04, was 3rd. There was some excellent running also by Karen Gillen in 1:13:18, Susan Aldridge in 1:14:12, Linda Walsh in 1:14:30, Kay Muldoon in 1:15:05, Maria McGee in 1:15:05, Anette Keane in 1:16:00.7 and Davinia Gaughan in 1:16:07.

The Grange 10k took place on Sunday, October 4th

BHS Riding and Road Safety Test at Markree Riding School Taken by more than 4,000 candidates a year, the BHS Riding and Road Safety Test helps educate riders in road safety in order to minimise the risk involved when riding horses on the roads. The test is available to all riders from 12 years of age and is supported by the Department for Transport. It is probably the only test that any rider will undertake that has the potential to save not only their own life but that of their horse and other road users as well.

This test is required for your BHS teaching exams.

RIDE AND ROAD SAFETY EXAM SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29TH 2015 HELD AT MARKREE RIDING STABLES COLLOONEY, SLIGO TRAINING DATES: SUNDAY NOVEMBER 15TH 10am4pm SUNDAY NOVEMBER 21ST 10am -4pm SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28th 2.30pm -5.30pm Canidtates will receive sample theory tests, Rules Of the Road, BHS training book, training for the simulated and real road. 100% pass rate 2013, 2014 & 2015 Enquries and Bookings to BHS Ride & Road Safety Officer Caroline Curtin Carty.

Markree Riding Stables are also delighted to invite the Parents and friends of ThisAbility Equestrian Club to participate at their one day workshop on Monday 18th Oct from 11-1am.

T:0719130727 M: 0872191786 E: carolinecurtincarty@gmail.com ELISA AND HAZELBERGS ERIK JUMPING IN THE 148 GRAND PRIX IN CAVAN RECENTLY.

Sligo Riding Centre schedule

THE FOLK OUT AT ISLAND VIEW RIDING STABLES MAKING THE MOST OF THE GOOD WEATHER RECENTLY

M. FINNEGAN

AUTUMN SHOWJUMPING SHOWJUMPING 2015 2015 AUTUMN OCT 11,18, 11,18, NOV NOV 1,15,29,DEC 1,15,29,DEC 13 13 @ @ 14.00 14.00 OCT CHRISTMAS SHOW SHOW DEC DEC 20 20 CHRISTMAS EVENT 1.

1. NEW NEW COMERS COMERS EVENT EVENT 2.

2. 70 70 CMS. CMS. EVENT EVENT 3.

3. 80 80 CMS. CMS. EVENT EVENT 4.

4. 90 90 CMS. CMS. EVENT EVENT 5.

5. 1.00M. 1.00M. EVENT EVENT 6.

6. 1.10M 1.10M EVENT ENTRY FEE FEE €10 €10 PER PER CLASS. CLASS. ALL ALL EVENTS EVENTS TWO TWO PHASE, PHASE, ENTRY EVENT 4,5,6 4,5,6 SECOND SECOND PHASE PHASE AGAINST AGAINST THE THE CLOCK. CLOCK. EVENT CHRISTMAS SHOW SHOW DEC DEC 20 20 CHRISTMAS For more more information information contact contact them them 087-2304828 087-2304828 For

MINI BUS & COACH HIRE

Over 40 Years Experience transporting Passengers all over Ireland Wide selection of vehicles from 14 to 54 seaters to suit your needs

Call us now on 087-247-9536

18

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

SLIGO ASTRO LEAGUES

KEVIN EGAN CARS PREMIER DIVISION 2015/16

S

ligo Astro Leagues is a brand new recreational football leaue played on the IT Sligo Knocknarea Arena Astro turf.The league was founded earlier this year to give people who cannot give the commitment any more to play Junior soccer the chance to play football during the week at a competitive and safe standard on a top notch quality surface.

Fixture’s are played on week nights usually around 8/9pm under the flood lights on the Knocknarea Arena Astro Turf in IT Sligo.Games are played in a safe and sporting

manner with no slide tackles allowed and a 10 minute sin bin for anyone who oversteps the mark.

Games are played within the hour with 2 halves of 28 minutes and a 2 minute halftime break.The offside rule only comes into effect once a player enters the 18 yard penalty box.

There are 10 teams taking part in the ‘Kevin Egan Cars Premier Division’ this year and we hope to expand to a 16 team league next season.Team’s are from all over the northwest of Ireland including Boyle, Ballina plus Riverstown and the local Sligo region.We would like

to thank all the local businesses who have sponsored a team in this year’s league including Corkys Bar, Foleys Bar, The Village Inn, The Alley Bar, Henneberry Financial Services and the main league sponsor ‘Kevin Egan Cars Sligo’.

We are delighted to have Kevin and Mark on board as this years main league sponsor not only have they sponsored the league but they are giving a free car service to the player of the month each month and have also agreed to give 10% off on all car services to players taking part in this years league.

To keep up to date with all results,fixtures and match reports check out our facebook page or soccerleagues.comortais.c om ‘Sligo Astro Leagues’.

Teams : Henneberry Financial Services Foleys Bar FC Corkys Bar FC Cornview Celtic Puddleview Celtic Boyle Celtic FC S.T.S.G. United The Village Inn The White Gorillas IT Sligo FC League Sponsor Kevin Egan Cars www.kevinegancars.ie

The Village Inn

Cornview Celtic

Foleys Bar FC

S.T.S.G. United

IT Sligo FC

Corkys Bar FC

Henneberry Financial Services

Puddleview Celtic

The White Gorillas

Boyle Celtic FC

SOME GREAT PERFORMANCE'S FROM COLLOONEY KICK BOXERS YESTERDAY AT THE RUMBLE IN DUBLIN.WELL DONE TO ALL WHO TOOK PART, LIAM KEANEY, RUTH, LUCY,HALLE CONLON-OATES,THOMAS LITTLE,JAMES DUFFY AND ALEX BLOCK

JEFF KAY; PAULA MC DONAGH ANN LONGWORTH AND NICK MILLER - ABLY REPRESENTING SLIGO TENNIS AT THE CONNACHT LEAGUE

19

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

SLIGO ROVERS ASTRO LEAGUE 2015 T he Sligo Rovers 2015/16 Astro leagues commenced on September 15th with 10 teams registered to participate in this years event. The event will be held on a weekly basis on the 4G Astro facility in The Showgrounds. Teams participating this year include last years champions The Belfry, along with EJs Menswear, Forrest Celtic, Grange Utd, Bald Eagles, GSS Sligo, Strand Celtic and three new entrants being Clinical Hygiene FC, Borussia Teeth FC and Adelaide Casino respectively. The format of the league is very similar to the Scottish

approach, with each team playing each other twice, which will then be followed by a split into a top and bottom tier. Once the league has completed, 2 cup competitions will then commence, with the final of the open cup being held under lights in the Showgrounds main pitch.

This year also sees the introduction of Sligo/Leitrim referees to the league, in order to make the running of the league itself, with regards to match nights, more professional for all teams involved.

To date, the Adelaide Casino have set the pace in the league, and are the only side

Bald Eagles

The Belfry

Grange Utd

Forrest Celtic

to have a 100% record in the league, registering wins over Borussia Teeth FC, Forrest Celtic and Grange Utd. However, this years league has the potential to be a very tight one at the top, with a lot of ups and downs for all teams set to happen during the course of the season.

Therefore the Adelaide Casino will be eager to maintain their perfect start to the season, while the chasing pack will anxious to try and close the gap at the top of the SRFC Astro League Table.

To be kept up to date with events surrounding the league, upcoming fixtures and results, please add SRFC Astro Turf on Facebook.

IN BRIEF

What a fantastic double header in The Showgrounds in the #srfcastroleague Some magnificent finishes that would look good on Match of the Day! FT results Clinical Hygiene 1 The Belfry 7 & Forrest Celtic 2 Strand Celtic 2. A fantastic display from The belfry with 6 different goalscorers, while Forrest Celtic battled back from 2-0 down to earn a point! Also we saw Borussia Teeth FC come from a goal behind to beat Bald Eagles 2-1. Then at 9pm Ejs beat GSS Sligo 4-1, with both sides missing penalties.

GSS Sligo

EJs

Borussia Teeth FC

Strand Celtic

Adelaide Casino

Clinical Hygiene

Co. Sligo Harriers at the Northwest Working & Gun Dog Fair, Temple House, Sligo

An Aladdin’s Cave of Soft Furnishings and Services to Transform Your Home

Celebrating 25 Years in Business - Help us Celebrate!

Our Professionally trained staff, with years of experience in all aspects of Window treatments and soft furnishings will offer you a personal service not found anywhere else.

25% OFF

READY MADE CURTAINS FABRICS TO ORDER

20 % OFF ROLLER BLINDS / VERTICAL BLINDS & WOOD FINISH BLINDS

Union Street, Sligo • Telephone: 071-9146299 • email: sales@plan4.ie • Visit us online @ www.plan4.ie

20

PHOTOS: Jordan Cummins • Email: jordancumminsphotography@gmail.com

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Shooting the hoop with Pau Vilá and the

Sligo All Stars from home. For Pau though, it’s not something to shy away from; “it’s a new challenge for me; it’s a new country, a new language, a new culture and new people”, he says of the big changes in his life, summarising; “everything is new for me”.

Although he may be for the most part, in charge, Pau says the Irish approach to the game is teaching him new things too: “In Spain, I am always seeing the same kind of things; the same basketball, the same defense, the same offence”, he explains. “Here it’s all different, and I’m happy with that as a coach, because my view is widening – I’m seeing more basketball and different

PAU VILÁ

Eamon O'Neill

S

ligo’s All-Stars basketball club is reaching for the sky. Having already produced a number of national players, they’re striving for even greater successes. Reaching out to one of Europe’s strongest basketballing nations, they’ve just recruited their newest team member, in Spanish coach Pau Vilá. With a long history on the court, both as a competitor and behind the scenes, Pau has relocated to Ireland, bringing with him a love of the sport that is almost palpable; “basketball is my life”, he affirms as he sits down for a chat with Eamon O’Neill. We caught up with the Catalonian to hear about his plans for the club, and get the story so far.

Basketball, like most sports, is a game that comes with its own lexicon. There’s plenty of jargon associated with it that even those with less than a passing interest would be familiar with, such as ‘dribbling’ and ‘slam dunking’. There are however, other lesser known terms, and

for the newest member of the Sligo All-Stars’ coaching team it’s ‘travelling’ that has perhaps taken on a whole new appropriation. In plain basketball terminology, travelling is defined as; “the violation of moving with the ball without dribbling correctly”. He may not have committed any infringements, however Pau Vilá has come a long way from his native Mataró to join one of Ireland’s fastest growing clubs. “I liked what I heard about the club, the city and the country, and here I am”, he says simply as we sit down to chat during a break in sessions at Sligo’s Mercy College.

Although fighting it out on a crowded court with the big guns of the Gaelic games, soccer and rugby, basketball is still one of Ireland’s most popular sports, and by Pau’s own reckoning it ranks around fifth, in terms of the number of people playing it here. In Spain however, it’s much more widespread, which explains why All-Stars’ director Shane O’Meara headed for the Ciutat Comtal – Barcelona - when he sought

someone to help take the club to new heights. “I met Shane in my city and he told me that he was looking for a coach from Spain”, say Pau taking up the story. “In Spain, basketball is the number two sport, and it’s very important”, he continues, adding; “the standard of basketball is high, and it’s very competitive”.

Arriving in Ireland in midAugust, Pau wasted no time in getting started with the Sligo club; “I arrived on a Monday and by Tuesday I had started on my first team”, he says matter-of-factly. From there things have progressed rapidly, with coaching sessions every day. Working with a large number of teams, divided into girls and boys and various age-groupings, Pau says that he was a little daunted when he first got to grips with the All-Stars’ set up: “In Spain I coached just three teams, and here I have to coach maybe six, seven, eight teams. It’s a big adjustment”, he admits.

It’s not the only change that the Catalonian has had to adapt to. There’s also the not so small matter of life away

styles of playing”. The upshot of all this Pau says is that it works both ways, or as he puts it simply; “I am learning too”.

A mutually beneficial relationship between team and coach then, Pau sees big things ahead for the Sligo AllStars, and when asked about the national competition, he isn’t shy about singing his team’s praises: “Here in Sligo we have good players”, he says. “We have three or four that have played in the national team, and it’s good news, as we have a strong foundation for building a great team”, he asserts.

There is however, work to be done before he can see the fruits of his team’s labours,

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

and Pau has a simple philosophy when it comes to achieving their shared goals; “if you are willing to work hard, you can improve every day”, he says emphatically.

Are the students willing, or do you have to crack the whip, I ask? “Well this is where the Irish are the same as the Spanish students”, he laughs; “the coach needs to work hard too, and sometimes I do need to raise my voice. But basketball is my life, and it’s all for the good of the team”, he assures.

With the season starting in October, Pau is aiming for early success on the court: “The other coaches want us to be one of the best clubs in the country, and I really do think it’s possible”, he says proudly. As we conclude our chat and Pau heads off to begin another session, he offers a final parting shot that reveals his own personal motivation; “Spain is one of the best places in Europe for

basketball, and I want to bring that passion to Ireland”, he says. With a winning attitude to guide them, the All-Stars look set to catch a fast break, and net a great year.

Travelling excepted.

21

22

MARKREE DOG AGILITY CLUB

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Summerhill College 2nd Year Gaelic team

Well done to the Summerhill College 2nd Year Gaelic team who graced Croke park with their Skills as a reward for their participation in a "Play to Stay" programme run by the School and the GAA. A big shout out goes to Ross Donevan and Liam Og Gormally for all their help.

Sligo Grammar School Chess Club

M

arkree dog agility club have reached a point where they have decided to change the club's name - preferably to something less location specific. Get your thinking caps on! They will pick a

new name at the AGM on 23rd October and will have a vote if necessary. There will be a prize for the person with the winning suggestion! If anybody has any questions, please contact a committee member (Tina,

Siobhan, Seamus, Courtney, Suzanne, Harriet or Pamela). Their next competition is on Sunday 11th October at 2pm till 5pm. It is this year's last competition and what the league results depend on - don't miss it!

Sligo well represented at Croke Park Congratulations to John Niland and his umpires, John Henry, Kevin Maye, James Finan, Declan Haran and standby umpire Dermot Walsh on a job well done officiating for the Ladies Senior Football All Ireland Final last month in Croke Park.

Congrats also to the ball girls from Tourlestrane and their mentors. Well done also to all those who travelled to witness some great football together with being part of a new record attendance at a ladies sporting fixture in Europe in 2015. - 31,083. What a wonderful day !!!

The chess club at Sligo grammar school has become more popular each year, with numbers now above 20 people.

The club meets once a week to play in a room off the Library at lunchtime. Last year saw a big increase in numbers with a lot of new first years joining. Many transition years also have joined in order to fulfil their Gaisce awards obligations. The winter league of 2014 was a great success. 12 players played in a Round Robin league. The outright winner was a first year, new to the club. Well done to him. The winter league for 2015 will shortly be underway. Everyone is welcome to compete

23

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

CONNACHT MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONS

Northwest MTB hosted the Connacht Cycling MTB Championships in Union woods recently and by all accounts it was definitely the toughest MTB race in Connacht, if not the country! The had 110 riders today, 54 of with were in the Youth categories This has been the largest Connacht MTB race so far and it was a great day with the weather and trail conditions too.

A 1 - 2 FOR NORTHWEST MOUNTAIN BIKE AT UNION WOODS! CONNACHT ELITE MEN'S CHAMPION MARK SCANLON FOLLOWED CLOSELY BY RONAN MCNAMARA ... WELL DONE LADS !!

24

25

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015 SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

David Gillick’s Kitchen

Chicken Soba Noodles S

from track to Table

oba is Japanese for buckwheat, but nowadays soba tends to refer to any thin noodle. I always try to use buckwheat noodles as they’re nutritious, low in calories and great for people who are sensitive to wheat or other grains.

Buckwheat isn’t a type of wheat – it’s actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb.

This dish is great at home or on the road and tastes great served either warm or cold.

BUILDING A BALANCED DISH

O

ver the years, one of the key lessons I learned from nutritionists was how to build a healthy, balanced meal. It sounds so simple, but it's only when you take a good look at what you're actually eating that you realise that sometimes you're only eating one type of food.

Take breakfast, for example.

How many people have toast and jam to start the day?

There's only one food type here: carbohydrate. No protein, no good fat and no vegetables or fruit. While you sleep you fast, so the first meal of the day is important, and it's vital that it's balanced. Try to include a source of protein, vegetables or fruit and, if need be, a source of slowrelease carbohydrate. I say 'if need be' because if you are trying to lose weight, you don't need to fuel up with carbohydrates. I'm not anticarbs, but I think people are eating too many processed, poor quality carbohydrates.

To explain how carbohydrates work in the body, let's use water as an example.

Imagine I'm holding a glass of water that's three-quarters full in my right hand and a jug of water in my left hand. If I pour the water from the jug into

the glass and continue to do so, it will overflow. But if I fill the glass to the top and then stop and take a drink from the glass, I can top up the glass with water from the jug. This is exactly how the body works, but with one big difference: when the water, i.e. the carbohydrate, overflows, it gets turned into fat and the result is weight gain. When we exercise, it's as though we're taking a drink from the glass and then we can refuel with a carbohydrate meal postexercise. And the more we exercise, the more carbohydrate we can consume.

Your meals should contain sources from all the food groups. The more variety of foods and the more colour on your plate, the better.

To control portion size, use your hands. The palm of your hand should equate to the amount of protein that's on your plate, a fist for vegetables, half a cupped hand for carbohydrate and the length of your thumb for fat.

A BALANCED PLATE The illustration opposite shows how I would build my plate on a day I exercised. If I didn't do any exercise I would reduce the amount of carbohydrate

and increase the amount of vegetables.

RECOVERY SNACKS • BANANA • ORANGE JUICE • HANDFUL OF NUTS • WHEY PROTEIN • FLAVOURED MILK • FRUIT YOGURT • HEALTH BARS

Ingredients 60g soba noodles

Eat real food Stay away from processed food. If it swam, ran, flew or grew, eat it.

Don’t skip meals Try not to go long periods without eating.

Vary your intake of food.

Don’t just stick to the same foods – try to regularly vary what you’re eating.

The more colour, the better.

When it comes to fruit and veg, eat a variety of colour: a rainbow plate.

CARBOHYDRATES Oats, sweet potatoes, quinoa, bulgur wheat, butternut squash and couscous.

FRUIT I try to eat light skinned fruit, such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and plums, because they have more antioxidants and less fructose.

VEGETABLES The more colour you can eat, the better. I tend to eat more above ground

veg, such as broccoli, courgettes and cauliflower, because they are lower in starch and don't affect insulin levels.

Eating too much sugar and starch, which are present in root veg, can result in weight gain.

FAT Rapeseed oil, olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, feta cheese, olives and mozzarella.

A MEAL PLAN FOR A TYPICAL WEEK Retirement is hard. It meant a massive change in routine and, of course, not training to the same intensity or degree as a full-time elite athlete. So how do I stay in shape? It starts with being an elite in the kitchen. Below is a typical week for me in terms of what I eat.

MONDAY BREAKFAST Bircher muesli SNACK Sliced apple covered in peanut butter LUNCH Vegetable omelette SNACK Olives and mixed nuts DINNER Thai red chicken curry SNACK Greek yogurt, berries and chocolate and peppermint tea TUESDAY BREAKFAST Muesli and Greek yogurt SNACK Cottage cheese, fruit and cashew nuts LUNCH Red lentil, chickpea and chilli soup SNACK Protein balls DINNER Mum's stew

SNACK Yogurt mousse and peppermint tea WEDNESDAY BREAKFAST Breakfast smoothie SNACK Hummus and sliced carrots LUNCH Quiche SNACK Mixed nuts DINNER Quinoa with salmon, rocket and mint pesto SNACK Red pepper and Boursin snack and peppermint tea THURSDAY BREAKFAST Granola SNACK Cottage cheese, fruit and cashew nuts LUNCH Thai chicken cups

Serves 1 Cook the noodles according to the packet

instructions. Have your colander ready in the sink and prepare a bowl of cold water.

When the noodles are cooked, drain and promptly dump them in the cold water, then drain again. This helps get rid of excess starch.

Once the noodles have been drained for the second time, warm them by heating 1 tsp of sesame oil in a frying pan over a low heat, then add the noodles and the rest of the ingredients. Toss together to combine.

Key Principles of Healthy Eating

Post-exercise, it's extremely important to refuel with a carb and protein snack in the 20 minutes immediately after training. The need for this is governed by how hard you have worked, i.e. the rate of perceived exertion. Or to put it more simply, the talk test. If you're doing a training session where the intensity is such that you can maintain a conversation, then you don't need a big recovery snack. If it's so intense that you can barely stand, never mind talk, then a recovery snack is required.

This is the only time that fast release sugar is allowed, so it's okaya to eat sugary health bars at this point.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE FOODS PROTEIN Chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, tofu, fish and beans.

(buckwheat noodles) 1 tsp sesame oil 150g cooked chicken, chopped, sliced or shredded (or you could use cooked sliced beef) 5 mangetout, finely sliced 1 small carrot, peeled into ribbon-like strips ½ red pepper, sliced ½ fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely diced 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tbsp sesame seeds 1 tsp lime juice 1 tsp soy sauce

SNACK Protein balls DINNER Spanish omelette SNACK Greek yogurt, berries and chocolate and peppermint tea FRIDAY BREAKFAST Simple fast oats SNACK Mozzarella and tomato LUNCH Chicken, quinoa and mango salad SNACK Greek yogurt and dessicated coconut DINNER Mexican loaded potato skins SNACK Hummus with celery sticks and peppermint tea SATURDAY BREAKFAST Peanut butter cup

smoothie SNACK Cottage cheese, fruit and cashew nuts LUNCH Chicken and spinach wrap SNACK Protein balls DINNER Treat meal SNACK Too stuffed! Peppermint tea SUNDAY BREAKFAST Bacon and eggs with salsa SNACK Sliced apple and almond butter LUNCH Mixed bean salad SNACK Mixed nuts DINNER Roast dinner SNACK Dessert and peppermint tea

Be wary of so called ‘low-fat’ products.

Generally they are over-processed and contain lots of sugar, preservatives and additives.

Red Lentil, Chickpea & Chilli Soup

T

here is nothing better than a bowl of warm soup on a cold day, and with a hint of chilli you get an extra punch.

I’m a big of fan of protein and I try to have a good source of it in every meal.

By using lentils I’m still getting a hit of protein while giving my body a break from animal protein.

It’s important to eat different sources of protein, as this will provide you with an array of nutrients and minerals.

Ingredients 1 tsp cumin seeds small pinch of chilli flakes 1 tbsp olive oil ½ red onion, chopped

200g canned tomatoes, whole or chopped 70g red split lentils 400ml vegetable stock or water 100g cooked or tinned chickpeas (rinsed and drained if tinned) salt and pepper 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, to garnish small bunch of fresh coriander, roughly chopped, to garnish Serves 2 Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat and dry-fry the cumin seeds and chilli flakes for 1 minute, until they start to jump around the pan and release their aromas.

Add the oil to the saucepan, then add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, until the onion has started to soften. Stir in the tomatoes, lentils and stock and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the lentils have softened.

Whizz the contents of the saucepan with a stick blender or in a food processor until it’s a rough purée. Add the chickpeas and heat gently over a low heat. Season well with salt and pepper.

Serve in warmed bowls with a dollop of yogurt and fresh coriander.

Stay away from sugar.

Aim to eat low-sugar food instead. This will help keep your insulin levels stable, which in turn will help keep hunger under control and keep your energy levels more constant too.

Include good fats.

Good fats such as nuts, seeds, olives, feta cheese and avocados are staples in my diet.

Always aim to include a source of good fat in your meal.

Reward yourself with a treat occasionally.

Stick to a routine and don’t be afraid to reward yourself with your favourite treat. It’s very common for people to have a treat meal once a week, so enjoy it and then get back on the wagon.

24

25

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015 SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

David Gillick’s Kitchen

Chicken Soba Noodles S

from track to Table

oba is Japanese for buckwheat, but nowadays soba tends to refer to any thin noodle. I always try to use buckwheat noodles as they’re nutritious, low in calories and great for people who are sensitive to wheat or other grains.

Buckwheat isn’t a type of wheat – it’s actually a fruit seed related to rhubarb.

This dish is great at home or on the road and tastes great served either warm or cold.

BUILDING A BALANCED DISH

O

ver the years, one of the key lessons I learned from nutritionists was how to build a healthy, balanced meal. It sounds so simple, but it's only when you take a good look at what you're actually eating that you realise that sometimes you're only eating one type of food.

Take breakfast, for example.

How many people have toast and jam to start the day?

There's only one food type here: carbohydrate. No protein, no good fat and no vegetables or fruit. While you sleep you fast, so the first meal of the day is important, and it's vital that it's balanced. Try to include a source of protein, vegetables or fruit and, if need be, a source of slowrelease carbohydrate. I say 'if need be' because if you are trying to lose weight, you don't need to fuel up with carbohydrates. I'm not anticarbs, but I think people are eating too many processed, poor quality carbohydrates.

To explain how carbohydrates work in the body, let's use water as an example.

Imagine I'm holding a glass of water that's three-quarters full in my right hand and a jug of water in my left hand. If I pour the water from the jug into

the glass and continue to do so, it will overflow. But if I fill the glass to the top and then stop and take a drink from the glass, I can top up the glass with water from the jug. This is exactly how the body works, but with one big difference: when the water, i.e. the carbohydrate, overflows, it gets turned into fat and the result is weight gain. When we exercise, it's as though we're taking a drink from the glass and then we can refuel with a carbohydrate meal postexercise. And the more we exercise, the more carbohydrate we can consume.

Your meals should contain sources from all the food groups. The more variety of foods and the more colour on your plate, the better.

To control portion size, use your hands. The palm of your hand should equate to the amount of protein that's on your plate, a fist for vegetables, half a cupped hand for carbohydrate and the length of your thumb for fat.

A BALANCED PLATE The illustration opposite shows how I would build my plate on a day I exercised. If I didn't do any exercise I would reduce the amount of carbohydrate

and increase the amount of vegetables.

RECOVERY SNACKS • BANANA • ORANGE JUICE • HANDFUL OF NUTS • WHEY PROTEIN • FLAVOURED MILK • FRUIT YOGURT • HEALTH BARS

Ingredients 60g soba noodles

Eat real food Stay away from processed food. If it swam, ran, flew or grew, eat it.

Don’t skip meals Try not to go long periods without eating.

Vary your intake of food.

Don’t just stick to the same foods – try to regularly vary what you’re eating.

The more colour, the better.

When it comes to fruit and veg, eat a variety of colour: a rainbow plate.

CARBOHYDRATES Oats, sweet potatoes, quinoa, bulgur wheat, butternut squash and couscous.

FRUIT I try to eat light skinned fruit, such as blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and plums, because they have more antioxidants and less fructose.

VEGETABLES The more colour you can eat, the better. I tend to eat more above ground

veg, such as broccoli, courgettes and cauliflower, because they are lower in starch and don't affect insulin levels.

Eating too much sugar and starch, which are present in root veg, can result in weight gain.

FAT Rapeseed oil, olive oil, coconut oil, avocados, nuts, seeds, feta cheese, olives and mozzarella.

A MEAL PLAN FOR A TYPICAL WEEK Retirement is hard. It meant a massive change in routine and, of course, not training to the same intensity or degree as a full-time elite athlete. So how do I stay in shape? It starts with being an elite in the kitchen. Below is a typical week for me in terms of what I eat.

MONDAY BREAKFAST Bircher muesli SNACK Sliced apple covered in peanut butter LUNCH Vegetable omelette SNACK Olives and mixed nuts DINNER Thai red chicken curry SNACK Greek yogurt, berries and chocolate and peppermint tea TUESDAY BREAKFAST Muesli and Greek yogurt SNACK Cottage cheese, fruit and cashew nuts LUNCH Red lentil, chickpea and chilli soup SNACK Protein balls DINNER Mum's stew

SNACK Yogurt mousse and peppermint tea WEDNESDAY BREAKFAST Breakfast smoothie SNACK Hummus and sliced carrots LUNCH Quiche SNACK Mixed nuts DINNER Quinoa with salmon, rocket and mint pesto SNACK Red pepper and Boursin snack and peppermint tea THURSDAY BREAKFAST Granola SNACK Cottage cheese, fruit and cashew nuts LUNCH Thai chicken cups

Serves 1 Cook the noodles according to the packet

instructions. Have your colander ready in the sink and prepare a bowl of cold water.

When the noodles are cooked, drain and promptly dump them in the cold water, then drain again. This helps get rid of excess starch.

Once the noodles have been drained for the second time, warm them by heating 1 tsp of sesame oil in a frying pan over a low heat, then add the noodles and the rest of the ingredients. Toss together to combine.

Key Principles of Healthy Eating

Post-exercise, it's extremely important to refuel with a carb and protein snack in the 20 minutes immediately after training. The need for this is governed by how hard you have worked, i.e. the rate of perceived exertion. Or to put it more simply, the talk test. If you're doing a training session where the intensity is such that you can maintain a conversation, then you don't need a big recovery snack. If it's so intense that you can barely stand, never mind talk, then a recovery snack is required.

This is the only time that fast release sugar is allowed, so it's okaya to eat sugary health bars at this point.

SOME OF MY FAVOURITE FOODS PROTEIN Chicken, turkey, beef, eggs, tofu, fish and beans.

(buckwheat noodles) 1 tsp sesame oil 150g cooked chicken, chopped, sliced or shredded (or you could use cooked sliced beef) 5 mangetout, finely sliced 1 small carrot, peeled into ribbon-like strips ½ red pepper, sliced ½ fresh red chilli, deseeded and finely diced 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 tbsp sesame seeds 1 tsp lime juice 1 tsp soy sauce

SNACK Protein balls DINNER Spanish omelette SNACK Greek yogurt, berries and chocolate and peppermint tea FRIDAY BREAKFAST Simple fast oats SNACK Mozzarella and tomato LUNCH Chicken, quinoa and mango salad SNACK Greek yogurt and dessicated coconut DINNER Mexican loaded potato skins SNACK Hummus with celery sticks and peppermint tea SATURDAY BREAKFAST Peanut butter cup

smoothie SNACK Cottage cheese, fruit and cashew nuts LUNCH Chicken and spinach wrap SNACK Protein balls DINNER Treat meal SNACK Too stuffed! Peppermint tea SUNDAY BREAKFAST Bacon and eggs with salsa SNACK Sliced apple and almond butter LUNCH Mixed bean salad SNACK Mixed nuts DINNER Roast dinner SNACK Dessert and peppermint tea

Be wary of so called ‘low-fat’ products.

Generally they are over-processed and contain lots of sugar, preservatives and additives.

Red Lentil, Chickpea & Chilli Soup

T

here is nothing better than a bowl of warm soup on a cold day, and with a hint of chilli you get an extra punch.

I’m a big of fan of protein and I try to have a good source of it in every meal.

By using lentils I’m still getting a hit of protein while giving my body a break from animal protein.

It’s important to eat different sources of protein, as this will provide you with an array of nutrients and minerals.

Ingredients 1 tsp cumin seeds small pinch of chilli flakes 1 tbsp olive oil ½ red onion, chopped

200g canned tomatoes, whole or chopped 70g red split lentils 400ml vegetable stock or water 100g cooked or tinned chickpeas (rinsed and drained if tinned) salt and pepper 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, to garnish small bunch of fresh coriander, roughly chopped, to garnish Serves 2 Heat a large saucepan over a medium heat and dry-fry the cumin seeds and chilli flakes for 1 minute, until they start to jump around the pan and release their aromas.

Add the oil to the saucepan, then add the onion and cook for 5 minutes, until the onion has started to soften. Stir in the tomatoes, lentils and stock and bring to the boil.

Reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, until the lentils have softened.

Whizz the contents of the saucepan with a stick blender or in a food processor until it’s a rough purée. Add the chickpeas and heat gently over a low heat. Season well with salt and pepper.

Serve in warmed bowls with a dollop of yogurt and fresh coriander.

Stay away from sugar.

Aim to eat low-sugar food instead. This will help keep your insulin levels stable, which in turn will help keep hunger under control and keep your energy levels more constant too.

Include good fats.

Good fats such as nuts, seeds, olives, feta cheese and avocados are staples in my diet.

Always aim to include a source of good fat in your meal.

Reward yourself with a treat occasionally.

Stick to a routine and don’t be afraid to reward yourself with your favourite treat. It’s very common for people to have a treat meal once a week, so enjoy it and then get back on the wagon.

26

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

SLIGO SPORT SNIPPETS

FIRST TOURNAMENT WIN FOR A SLIGO CITY BADMINTON CLUB PLAYER. CONGRATS ADAM ON THE BIG WIN IN LISBURN AND BECOMING ULSTER U17 DOUBLES CHAMPION 2015

BEEZIES BIG BROTHER AND SIMONE HESSION AT THE NATIONAL DRESSAGE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN CAVAN EQUESTRIAN CENTRE CORRAN AC WAS WELL REPRESENTED RECENTLY AT THE ATHLONE HALF MARATHON. BY ALL ACCOUNTS GREAT TIMES BY ALL

SLIGO RUGBY WELL REPRESENTED ON THE CONNACHT SQUAD

FATHER AND SON WIN INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP MEDALS

EASKEY AND FORMER SLIGO STAR DESSIE SLOYAN AND HIS SON DYLAN PLAYING TOGETHER IN THE KENNEDYS INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL IN MARKIEVICZ PARK.

ALL HOME MAINTENANCE & IMPROVEMENTS Carpentry, Tiling, Electrical and Plumbing FULLY INSURED- Contact Padraig: 087-9709400 or 071-9165369

NO JOB TOO SMALL • REASONABLE RATES • C2 REGISTERED

27

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Carrick Indoor Karting

2 0% F F O ing h en b ook

W

wi t h t h i s a d ve r t

Go karting is a versatile, fun-filled way to spend a special occasion, and it doesn’t end once you’ve crossed the finish line. Go karting circuits feature first rate catering facilities to unwind after a hard days racing – great for entertaining friends and family.

Our experienced team are dedicated to making your go karting event a truly great one. We can advise you on how to make your day include everything you want it to, and more.

Come race in Ireland’s largest indoor karting track. Can you beat our very own Stig’s time and get free pass for a month’s racing. Hen and Stag Packages available including group and Party Packages. Setup your very own grand prix and battle your friends. Situated in Carrick On Shannon, Leitrim.

15 MINUTES

KIDS OFFER GRAND PRIX 10 Children €45 PER Mini Grand PERSON Minimum 12 People Prix

ONLY ONLY €15 €150 Individual Run

Bottle of Bubbly for Winner, Medals and Trophy for 1st, 2nd & 3rd

Carrick Indoor Karting • Leitrim Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim t: 071-9621625 or 085-8667757 • e: info@carrickindoorkarting.com w: www.carrickindoorkarting.com

28

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

CONNACHT MOTOR CLUB AUTOCROSS AT LAGAN QUARRIES

By Cian Love

S

unday the 4th of October saw Connacht Motor Club’s Autocross move to a new venue at Lagan Quarry in Aughamore.

The event was a great success with all competitors singing its praises as the mixture of gravel and

concrete surfaces provided an exciting challenge.

Monaghan man Cormac McElvaney took the overall win on the day in his Mitsubishi Evo 7, 3 seconds ahead of Alan Moran in a Subaru Impreza while many of the local competitors took home crystal for their efforts.

In Class 1 Alan Pickens took

the win in an Opel Corsa with Paul Curran in second and a very creditable fourth overall in a Toyota Starlet. Patrick Corcoran finished just outside the awards on his first outing in a Suzuki Swift.

Class 2 was dominated by Sligo competitors as Ferlin Taylor put on a fine display of driving to take the win after a

last minute decision to compete.

Colin Currid, Barry Foley and Brian McGarraghy rounded out the class finishers, all driving Ford Escorts.

Des Lyons made the trip from Galway worthwhile as he won Class 3 just ahead of Damien Scanlon in another Honda Civic.

Derek Chambers and Paul Stuart finished just outside the awards on this occasion, taking fourth and fifth in class.

Former Connacht Autocross Champion Joseph Smith showed great pace once again as he took his Ford Escort to the Class 4 win ahead of Damien McGauran in a Toyota Corolla with local man Mark Murphy taking third on his first loose surface event in the Escort.

Class 5 was a battle of two men sharing one car, with Dominic McLoughlin coming out on top ahead of Martin Kearns in the Talbot Sunbeam.

Another Galway visitor.

Brian Martyn, picked up the Junior Award while Aoife Reynolds won the Ladies Award.

Class 7 was a family affair with cousins Lorcan and Andrew Moore, Andrew taking the win on this occasion.

Class 9 was also dominated

by Mayo competitors with Alan Moran, Sean McHugh and James McGreal taking home the awards, all driving the same Subaru Impreza.

Connacht Motor Club hope to build on the success of this first event at Lagan Quarry and planning will soon start for the next event. Keep an eye on www.connachtmotorclub.co m for updates.

Top Ten 1 Cormac McElvaney Mitsubishi Evo 7 04:13.14 2 Alan Moran Subaru Impreza 04:16.18 3 Alan Pickens Vauxhall Corsa 04:17.30 4 Paul Curran Toyota Starlet 04:17.69 5 Noel LappinFord Escort 04:18.35 6 Sean McHugh Subaru Impreza 04:19.99 7 Joseph Smith Ford Escort 04:20.79 8 Damien McGauran Toyota Corolla 04:21.90 9 Ferlin Taylor Toyota Corolla 04:23.15 10 Dominic McLoughlin Talbot Sunbeam 04:23.48

29

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

CONNACHT MOTOR CLUB

AUTOCROSS AT LAGAN QUARRIES

PHOTOS: CIAN LOVE & PATRICK REGAN

30

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

MIND READY, MIND SET?

IF NOT WHY NOT?

By John Graham

H

ardly a day passes when we don’t hear about the benefits of the right mindset from the world’s elite sports stars. Be it Rory McIlroy when losing the Masters or winning the US Open, Rob Kearney talking about mindfulness and the potential 1% difference or Wayne Rooney talking about the power of his imagination.

Every elite sportsperson knows the benefits of having a mindset that aids performance and most practice in some way to improve it.

A question I ask when initially working with amateur sports clubs or groups is “How many of you regularly work on your mindset as part of your training?” On average I get around 10% who say they do.

This rises to around 90% when I ask, “Do you feel having a supportive mindset is important?” So people are aware it’s important but generally don’t practice it.

Why is this so? Well perhaps it could be that playing with your imagination (as that’s all we are talking about here) isn’t as tangible as some other things we may prioritise.

Buying the right equipment, physically training, diet etc. are all things we can see, feel, touch & smell. There’s also a real sense of doing something. Perhaps that isn’t the case when we take time to rest, visualise, be mindful or meditate. I have had some clients who have told me they originally felt a bit of guilt because they “weren’t doing something”.

I’ve a theory that a lot of amateur sports people don’t regularly practice working with and understanding the mind, there’s just so many approaches out there. As well as a myriad of approaches I personally don’t think there’s enough information given in terms of when we should be using what.

When I first started coaching my main focus was on the content of the thought e.g. was the conscious thought positive or negative.

Over the years I then studied NLP, which looked at how you thought the thought e.g. how does it look, feel or sound.

Now I teach Mind Calm which helps people take a step back and see a thought for what it is without judgment, just a thought.

To me there’s a place for all three but again it’s using them at the right time that’s important. We want to be able to consciously programme our mind then let go and let the unconscious mind do its thing.

For the purpose of this piece I’d like to focus on things we can do before training or before we compete (at what ever level). Consciously thinking to train the brain and body.

One thing to be aware of is that every thought we have is having an effect on the neuroplasticity of our brain & our overall body chemistry.

Just think of that, with each thought we have, our mind is taking it as gospel and producing the chemicals required to deal with the information we are feeding it.

An experiment carried out

by Harvard that had one group of volunteers playing 5 notes on the piano for 2 hours a day for 5 days. Another group did the same but only imagined playing the notes for 2hrs for 5 days. The brain scans taken were almost identical. Compared to the control group this showed that the brain didn’t distinguish between real and imaginary!

If we constantly think stressful thoughts the brain will produce stress chemicals to deal with that. Adrenaline, cortisol, norepinephrine are all produced which are great, if we want to fight or take flight.

Not so good however over a longer term as they can create health problems such as metabolism slow down, heart problems, anxiety, as well as the body’s ability to regulate inflammation which is important when it comes to staying healthy and recovering from injury. I’m sure you will agree none of these are helpful in terms of participating in

our favorite sport or in terms of rest and recovery afterwards.

So with every thought we are reprogramming the brain.

The more we do it the more dendrites on neurons reach out and make connections creating a greater density of brain waves that are active.

Latest research shows neural connections are fading and strengthening all the time no matter your age, it’s not just something that’s set when we are younger.

When we say affirmations what we are doing is consciously programming the brain. Affirmations are statements of fact or what you would like to be a statement of fact. There’s no hard and fast rule about when to say them but 10-15 times in the morning then the same at night would give a bit of structure. During the day when ever you remember. As well as saying them often, say them meaningfully, give them some oomph. This will make them more powerful.

As well as affirmations, visualisations can be used to help get what you’re going for as well as prepare yourself to perform. When I say visualisations I would include as many senses as possible, imagine how you would be feeling, breathing, where you would feel extra strong. Get a real sense of it going great and repeat, repeat, repeat!

When we visualise or watch sports on TV or even look at pictures of sports stars we are firing messages from the brain to the relevant parts of the body. Say we are watching Rory McCilroy swing a club we will stimulate the neurons

that activate the parts of our bodies that would be involved in a swing. So yes as well as visualizing yourself, why not visualise being them or watch the best in your field repeatedly to train your own brain and body?

Sounds weird but it can have amazing effects.

I’ve a theory that a lot of amateur sports people don’t regularly practice working with and understanding the mind, there’s just so many approaches out there.

As well as a myriad of approaches I personally don’t think there’s enough information given in terms of when we should be using what.

In 1995 tests were done with one group being asked to flex their pinkies for 15 minutes per day for 12 weeks. Another group was asked to only think about flexing their pinkies for the same amount of time of the same period. What I found amazing with this experiment was those who physically flexed the pinkie had a 53% gain in strength.

Pretty good, but those who imagined it managed a 35% gain! Just from thinking about doing it.

Now I’m not saying rather than train properly, just sit on the sofa and imagine it.

However doing this along with great training and diet will help you enjoy your chosen sport more and improve performance.

Contact John: John G Coaching Warriors Watch, Carrowbunnaun, Strandhill, Co. Sligo johngcoaching@gmail.com Skype: john.graham1875 RORY MCILROY

31

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Sligo man to represent Ireland at Darts World Cup in Turkey

The WDF World Cup is a darts tournament organized by the World Darts Federation and has been held biennially since 1977. The tournament has featured men’s events since the beginning, while women’s events were added in 1983 and youth events in 1999.

The next World Cup will be held in Antalya, Turkey October 26th to 31st Men’s national teams participating in the WDF World Cup consist of four

players per country, competing as singles, pairs and in a four-player team event. Starting in 2015, women’s teams will also consist of four players each and compete in these three types of events, having previously comprised only two players for singles and pairs competitions. Youth teams include one male and one female player under the age of 18 who compete in their respective singles

competitions as well as a mixed pairs event.

Points are scored depending on placement in the various events, with the national teams achieving the highest points totals being crowned WDF World Cup Champions in the three categories of men, women and youth.

The WDF announced in early 2014 that a women’s team (fours) event would be added to the schedule for the first time at the upcoming 2014

SEAN MCGOWAN (R) AT A RECENT DARTS COMPETITION

WDF Europe Cup as well as future WDF Europe and World Cup tournaments.[1] Ireland will be represented with Sligo man Sean McGowan making the team.

The 50-year-old reached the 100 cap mark last year at the Six Nations tournament in Fife, Scotland.

He joins just a handful of players in the world who have represented their country 100 times.

“When I made my Irish debut eighteen years ago, I never thought I would go on to achieve 100 caps.

“It’s a record I’m very proud of.” A native of Carney, Sean began playing darts when he was 14 years old.

In an interview with local media at the time of gaining his 100th cap he reminisced on how he started playing darts. “Jimmy Currid was the man who introduced me to the sport and I took to it straight away.

“When I was old enough, I started to play with McMorrow’s pub team and I’ve played with other teams such as McLynn’s, Feehily’s and the Ship Inn down through the years.

“I’ve made great friends through darts - really good lads who will keep you grounded and not let you lose the run of yourself.”

He first represented Ireland 18 years ago and this will be his sixth World Cup having already been to South Africa, Malaysia, France, Ireland and Canada.

Sean has also had the distinction of captaining Ireland on 45 occasions.

The full line up is Men: David Concannon Benny Grace Sean McGowan (Sligo) David O’Connor Women: Robyn Byrne Veronica Skeffington Catherine Flemming Caroline Breen Boys: Mark Connolly Brendan Casey Girls: Leah Fox Jamie O’Connor Countries participating are TURKEY, IRAN, NIGERIA, CZECH REPUBLIC, DENMARK, GIBRALTAR, ICELAND, INDIA, ITALY, JERSEY, NETHERLANDS, REPUBLIC OF IRELAND, SCOTLAND, TRINIDAD & TOBAGO, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRIA, CATALONIA , FINLAND, GREECE, NORTHERN IRELAND, SWITZERLAND, WALES

Sligo County Darts Association

S

ligo county darts team hold Round Robin events every month, the next one is Oct 17th. They have a strong county set up with lads from North Sligo, South Sligo and Sligo town making up the squad.

This year there is an international premier league (singles) with two divisions. With 20-24 top players playing every week there will be quality games to be seen each week, this is not run by SEDA its run by James and Sean.

There are two Sligo players high up in the Irish rankings this year, Sean Mc Gowan and Anthony Mullarkey but Sligo has a long tradition of International Players over the years (will do a lecture on this

again).

There is an Irish ranking event planned for the Southern Hotel on November 22ed and the Irish Grand Prix on the 21st, with the winner going to Hull next year to play in the Winmall World Masters and the Lakeside Qualifiers. This venue will also host the North/South Challenge the week after on the 28th November. Where a 16-aside team from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland face off against each other, there ate also ladies and youth boys and girls teams taking part on the International scene. Sligo Sean Mc Gowan will be heading to Hull to play in the World Masters and the Lakeside Qualifiers from the 5th of Oc-

tober to the 12th, and then later in October he will be flying out to turkey with the Irish squad to play in the World Cup of Darts. Leah Smith, Sligo, a youth player will also be part of the World Cup Team.

This will be Sean’s 6th World Cup and he is also the most capped Irish player with 108 caps, currently ranked No. 3 in Ireland.

The next generation of Sligo players are also doing themselves proud. Ronan Mc Donagh, 15 years old from Bunnicaden, Co. Sligo is the Irish no. 1 youth and a member of Irelands youth team, gold medal winners at the European Championship earlier this year. He has great potential and can make a huge im-

pact at county level and at National and International level, very cool under pressure for such a young lad.

Sligo darts are hoping to entice the Irish National Darts Organization to hold the six nations here in Sligo next June (2016). At the moment they are looking for a venue and sponsorship for this event.

They hosted it in 2010 in Sligo Southern Hotel so the expertise is in place At this event you would have top players (Irish Dart Organization) from each country ie. Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and Holland. This event would also be live streamed.

Sligo darts are always looking for new players so if you like the game and can play a

bit watch our Facebook page and come along to our next event.

The Ship inn will be hosting their annual eight-week competition, starting on the 19th of October with the final on the 14th of December. One winner each week, then the eight come back on the 14th of December for the finals night. Always a good night of darts, with Daryl Gurney lasts years winner, beating David Concanion ( European Champion ) in a super final.

The county team just got new shirts with the help of our sponsors. The Ship inn, Sally Gardens (Ballisodare), Plan 4 Interior Design and Lissadell Lodge B & B. the committee wish to thank all our sponsors for their support.

32

‘EVERYONE THAT COULD JUMP SHIP, DID’: CONNACHT’S REFUSAL TO LIE DOWN

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Taken from Patrick McCarry’s - The New Breed Irish Rugby’s Professional Era

B

ack in 1995, Nigel Carolan, Connacht’s academy director, was playing centre for the province. Eddie O’Sullivan was double-jobbing as Carolan’s coach at Galwegians RFC and Connacht. He was also in charge of the Ireland Under-21 side. When the game turned professional, O’Sullivan spied a perfect opportunity to take on more work hours at Connacht in return for remuneration and added job security. He threw a demanding dice in the IRFU’s direction – a two-year contract or he would be moving on. It was a risk that backfired.

O’Sullivan was also turfed out of his Galwegians job. ‘We were due to go on a tour of Sweden in August 1996,’ says Carolan. ‘Eddie pulled back, because he couldn’t agree a two-year deal, which was madness. As it happened, Warren Gatland was flown into Stockholm to carry us through to the new era.’

Gatland took over a squad that contained thirteen players on part-time contracts, star out-half Eric Elwood on his national full-time contract and players sourced from the province’s main clubs.

Buccaneers, Corinthians and Galwegians were the main

providers. The New Zealander made a good impression during his two years at the helm, guiding Connacht to interprovincial wins over Leinster and Ulster, and reaching the quarter-final of the European Shield. Fellow Kiwi Glenn Ross endured two forgettable seasons in charge, while South Africa’s Steph Nel took the province to the quarter-finals of the inaugural Celtic League in 2001/02. There were signs of on-field improvements the following season, as Nel built his team around the likes of Gavin Duffy, Johnny O’Connor and Damian Browne.

As Brendan Fanning expertly details in From There to Here, the IRFU were facing a deficit of €4 million by the end of 2002/03, and €6.9 million the following year. The late-autumn scheduling of the 2003 World Cup meant the usual home Tests in November were off the table, while the foot-andmouth outbreak of 2001 had led to the cancellation and rescheduling of Six Nations games. The setbacks had not been kind on the union’s coffers. Seeking to redress the balance, Philip Browne declared that a major issue for the IRFU was the number of

professional players the country could afford to pay. By this stage, Connacht had a number of full- time pros on its books. As they were the weakest of the four provinces, the union zeroed in, and an almighty fight for survival – carried out in public and in print – began.

John Muldoon, tasked with captaining Connacht in 2014/15, was just breaking into the senior team as it faced the threat of being snuffed out.

‘You’re hearing all these rumours coming towards the end of the season,’ he says. ‘I was playing with the Irish Under-21s at the time, which was coached by Michael Bradley.There were all these rumours about Connacht being disbanded. I was training with these fellas at the time – Duffy, O’Connor, Colin Rigney, Rowan Frost, Ronnie McCormack – and they all start jumping ship. You start going, “Hold on. What’s going on here?” I don’t want to sound cruel here, but everyone that could jump ship, did. At the same time, you had all these people going to Dublin and marching [on the IRFU offices].

‘At the time, as they say, one man’s misfortune is another MICHAEL BRADLEY

man’s fortune. I have no qualms about saying that I certainly wasn’t good enough, back then, to be on a full-time contract. But the fact that all these people left suddenly opened up opportunities for other people to come in.

Thankfully, I was one of those people ... For someone who, at twenty, would have usually been on an academy contract, to get a full-time contract was huge.’

The march Muldoon referred to included the crowd of more than 2,000 supporters and ‘Friends of Connacht Rugby’ on 24 January 2003. Club captain Eric Elwood was part of the group that strode towards 62 Lansdowne Road to let the union know what they made of their plans to cut Connacht loose. With a banner with the words ‘Connacht Fans Say I.R.F. Off ’ fluttering outside the union’s front gates, Danno Heaslip was accompanied by young rugby fans Cassandra Deegan, Michael Farrell and Mark Rapple into its headquarters to deliver a letter of protest.The IRFU backed down six days later.

Muldoon says, ‘All those people that walked and put up a fight against the IRFU – at the time I probably didn’t realise how significant it was – Connacht has to be eternally grateful to them. When you look back at footage, it is not just people from Connacht that walked. There were a lot

of people from outside Connacht that got involved and showed their sup- port.

They’ll have to be remembered.’

Muldoon’s route into rugby is typically winding in a province that provides eight per cent of the Irish population. ‘I played hurling in Portumna up until I was about fourteen. My brother had picked up rugby and would play in the school during the winter, when it would be too wet and cold to go out and play hurling. The way it went was that if you got twenty names to start up a team, you had a team. If you couldn’t, there was no team. In first year there was no team, but we got a team together when I was in second year. I was particularly poor at the start and didn’t know what I was doing.’

The flanker credits a growth spurt for his sudden ascendancy to team captain of the school’s Junior Cup team. He played with Nenagh RFC, but it was not until he moved to Galway for college, at Galway Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT), that he fell under the purview of the provincial set-up. Once again, it was a numbers game. ‘When I was with Ireland Under-19s,’ Muldoon comments, ‘I went along to training with GMIT and only five people showed up.

The other lads went off to the pub while I started some fitness with one of my mates [ John Burke] in the corner of the

33

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

PAT LAM pitch.’ The Galwegians Under-20s invited the duo over to train and both were asked to turn out for the club’s senior team. Over a decade on, Muldoon has more than 200 appearances for the club.

Bradley, a former Munster and Ireland scrum half, was appointed Connacht coach for 2003/04, and took the team to the brink of the Challenge Cup final. Harlequins’ Will Greenwood denied them with a late try in the closing stages of their semi-final second leg, and Gavin Duffy, who had departed eighteen months previously, left the pitch in tears after helping his new team conquer his former club.

League form was patchy, but, in the words of Muldoon, Connacht were proving to be ‘a good FA Cup side’ capable of knocking over top teams on their day.

With London Irish from the age of five, hooker Adrian Flavin was lured to Connacht in 2006 after a discussion with the head coach. ‘I met Brads on the Wednesday, but the day before I had been in a contact session at London Irish,’ he says. ‘I got in a punchup with Nick Kennedy, and he caught me flush on the nose, breaking it instantly. He hasn’t got the nickname “Razor Knuckles” for no reason. Brads got in touch with me and said he’d be the one in the Connacht trackie top. I told him I’d be the one with a broken nose and two black eyes.

‘To see Brads’ passion for Connacht and his belief that he could get the province on the up was enough to convince me to make the move. The club was in a similar position to where London Irish was when I started, and I could see they were at their turning point. My first game was against Glasgow at home, and the attendance was about 700 or 800. To compare that to the place they are now is remarkable. They would now get four or five thousand for the less-attractive Heineken Cup games, and sell out for the big games and interpros.

Brads, Eric Elwood and Jerry

Kelly would all have to get a mention. Jerry fought tooth and nail for Connacht over the years.’

The idea of Connacht being used as both a feeder province and stag- ing post for young talents from Leinster, Munster and Ulster was suggested almost as soon as the IRFU officials arrived back from Paris in 1995. With each province trying to grow their own player bases over the early years of professional rugby, the concept was stagnant. That began to change when Bradley was in charge, and continued during Elwood’s tenure.

‘Every player that came and played well obviously bought into what we were doing out at Connacht,’ says Flavin. ‘If you came in with a chip on your shoulder or felt you were better than other lads, you were soon fucked out, to be honest. With the likes of Michael Swift, Johnny O’Connor and John Muldoon you had guys with high standards. If anyone thought, “Bloody hell, I’m here at Connacht,” they didn’t last long. You can see the lads that did embrace it. Sean Cronin, Jamie Hagan, Ian Keatley, Fionn Carr – they all added to the environment and bought into the Connacht spirit. We tried to create an environment where guys didn’t want to go back. If that was the case, and they did, then they would be richer for the experience and so would Connacht.’

Flavin adds, ‘Nigel Carolan and Johnny Duffy have done a great job in the academy – bringing through the likes of Kieran Marmion, Ronan Loughney, Jack Carty, Robbie Henshaw, Darragh Leader and Eoghan McKeon. Doing that means you can add in the likes of a Muliaina to add experience and excite the fans. It would be great if you could fill the starting fifteen with local boys, but that is not always going to happen. As long as the guys coming in buy into the spirit at the club, then everyone benefits. Look at Jason Harris-Wright – he’s an Australian who came to

Connacht via Leinster and Bristol, and he is a mainstay, a guy who has captained the club in big games.’

The big games became huge affairs for Connacht, starting in 2011/12, when the sustained success of the Irish provinces in Europe allowed for a fourth Heineken Cup slot. The men from the west were in the big time. Pool six contained Toulouse, Gloucester and a Harlequins side ably guided by Conor O’Shea.Quins were stunned by the ferocity of Connacht’s assault at their home ground, The Stoop, that November, but twenty points from Nick Evans saw them shade the tie. If Connacht felt they should have won that game, they were damned certain of it as they squandered countless chances in a 14–10 slip to Gloucester. By that midDecember stage, the province was in the grips of a pitiful losing streak. The poor run of league and cup form would plague the side until Quins made the trip to Galway in late January 2012.

‘It is not the result, who we were playing or the fact that we knocked Harlequins out,’declares Flavin when asked for his finest hour in Connacht colours. ‘It was the fact that we had lost fifteen games in a row before that, and that no one dropped their heads. There was no bitching, no in- fighting. Everyone stood up on the Monday and – through sheer desire or stupidity – said, “We can turn this around.” Fifteen losses, some shitty times when we thought, “Jesus, what can we do?” Some days we were blown away, whereas others we lost in the last minute. Quins at home, and John Muldoon stands up and says, “Tonight we are going to win.” It was not the best game in the world to watch, but we had come through four months of losses.

We weren’t coming off that pitch that night without a win, and we got there.’

The 9–8 nail-gnawer against Harlequins delivered Connacht’s only Heineken Cup win that season.Three arrived in 2012/13,courtesy of a poor Zebre side and a memorable home triumph over a Biarritz side containing Dimitri Yachvili and Imanol Harinordoquy. At the end of the season, after twenty-eight years of wringing himself dry for the cause, Elwood stepped down from his coaching role.

Lam arrived from Auckland, via a short stint with the Samoan national team. Fortune played a rare hand in an injuryshowered season by dropping Zebre in Connacht’s Heineken Cup pool. They started with a win on Italian soil, but league form was wretched, and a carpeting by Edinburgh in Murrayfield – the week before

an away encounter with Toulouse – saw Connacht fly out of Ireland to zero fanfare and fewer expectations.

‘Proving to teams we belonged at the top table was our first major achievement,’ says Muldoon. ‘One memory that stands out from our first season in the Heineken Cup was that the standing ovation we got from Toulouse after losing 24–3 showed us we deserved to be there. A lot of their fans wouldn’t have known too much about us, and would have turned up expecting their team to trounce us. For them to give us a standing ovation long after their players had left the pitch meant so much to us.’

Just under two years on from that night, Connacht were back at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

The French side was captained

by Thierry Dusautoir and was infested with world-class talent.

The likes of Louis Picamoles, Hosea Gear, Clement Poitrenaud and Yoann Huget – part of a €13-million squad – took to the pitch on 8 December 2013, with talk in Toulouse revolving around the time the home side would claim their try-scoring bonus point. The hosts ‘started with a bang’, but were repulsed by white jerseys. Veteran Connacht out-half Dan Parks kicked two penalties to make it 6–0 before Jean-Pascal Barraque’s try and conversion, right on half-time, made it 7–6.

The second half onslaught never materialised; instead, Marmion sniped over from close range after Carr went close in the right-hand corner.

Dusautoir’s converted try put Toulouse right back in the contest, but the westerners held firm in a fraught closing period. Never had the Sky Sports red button been pressed so much in such a short period of time on the island of Ireland.

Most came late to the party, but were eager to catch up.

They were rewarded with a 16– 14 win. Toulouse gained revenge the following

weekend in Galway, but that loss did nothing to cheapen a weekend Muldoon will never forget. ‘A few days before the game, a friend told me Toulouse were 1/200 [to win]. I asked what we were, and it was twenty or twenty-five to one. I remember thinking, “Jesus, in a two-horse race that is ridiculous.” I told a couple of people that we were quietly confident, and there were a few quotes from Pat that were quite bullish. I think that’s the beauty and the frustration of Connacht Rugby – we always believe we can beat anyone on our day. We did well to get through that fast Toulouse start, and they were very fortunate when Robbie Henshaw’s score was called back. I was talking to Michael Corcoran [of RTE] recently, and he told me he thought we were going to lose it. The way we had played and the way it was going, I didn’t think at any stage we would lose.’ In a rare occasion of largesse, the players flew back to Galway that evening on a charter flight. Beers were sipped from plastic cups as the match was replayed during the journey. There were some bleary eyes at the Monday morning video-review session, but no one wanted to miss the playback. ‘It was a nice moment,’ says Muldoon. ‘A lot of people were looking around that room, taking it in. The feeling was that we didn’t want to be the whipping boys of Irish rugby any longer.’

On 1 January 2015, Muldoon led Connacht to their first win over Munster in six years at a howling, rain-whipped Sportsground. They lost, eight days later,at home to Edinburgh.The heart is there,the performances are improving, but maintaining consistently high levels remains elusive.

Lam is contracted until June 2018, and can see genuine progress. For the first time since Warren Gatland left in 1998, however, Connacht are heading in the right direction.

ERIC ELWOOD

34

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

INNISFREE CYCLING CLUB’S LADIES TOUR OF THE LAKE They then proceeded through Calry and on into town, finishing back at the Sligo Park hotel for more food and refreshments.

T

his is the club’s 6th annual Ladies only cycle, which is run each year with all proceeds going to a local based charity.

This years chosen charity was DVAS; Domestic Violence Advocacy Service. There will be other cycling events throughout the year for all club members and again all of these events are ran in aid of local charities.

Innisfree Wheelers were the

first cycling club in Ireland to hold a Ladies only event when they ran their first one six years ago. The event has gone from strength the strength with 122 cyclists participating in the tour of the lake. The event was open to non-club members and once again this year the women from the Bike For Life group also took part. The event is ran with the support of the Sligo Sports and Recreation Partnership, with

The weather was good and everyone agreed that this is one of the most enjoyable and friendly cycling events held in Sligo.

whom the Club has a close working relationship.

The tour of the lake cycle departed from the Sligo Park Hotel and travelled out close to the Holy well and on around Lough Gill and into Dromahair for a well deserved coffee and food break. After the break cyclists passed by Parke’s Castle and climbed some difficult hills, with the last climb taking them up past the viewing area at Colga Lake.

Improving Your Game Article by Deirdre Cooke of Deirdre Cooke Opticians

T

here is a wealth of scientific evidence to prove that physical exercise contributes enormously to both our physical and mental health. Regular exercise increases cardiovascular health and reduces the risk of conditions like diabetes, hypertension, asthma and cancer. It improves our bone density and has been proven to be associated with better self-esteem and psychological well-being.

Sports like squash, tennis,

badminton and football involve a ball or shuttlecock travelling at high speeds. In sports like badminton, where doubles are played, there is also risk of impact from a partner’s racket. Impact in these sports can cause eye injuries; ranging from a less serious corneal abrasion to potential loss of sight caused by a retinal detachment. In any sport where there is a risk of impact, specific sports eyewear should be worn.

Eyewear which is suitable for sports like football and racquetball contain lenses made from a high density polycarbonate material.

Polycarbonate lenses are toughened to minimise any potential risk of breakage from high impact. The frame is also made from a tougher material than a normal spectacle frame.

Golfers will benefit enormously from using sports eyewear with an amber contrast filter which enhances the colour of the fairways and green. They also provide full UV400 protection and blocks out the harmful blue light.

Along with protecting the eyes from harmful UV light, outdoor sports like cycling and clay pigeon shooting will require sports eyewear with a range of clear and tinted lenses, which can easily be interchanged according to weather conditions.

Whether you enjoy a bit of fun in the swimming pool and sea with your children, or are

competing at a more serious level, prescription swimming goggles will give you comfort and confidence by allowing you to see clearly.

With living so close to our beautiful coastline; sailing, fishing and surfing are all very popular sports. Our specific Aqua goggle contains a polarised lens which offers UV400 protection along with reducing unwanted glare from the water. Polarised lenses selectively block out glare instead of dimming the entire field of vision. Traditional sunglasses may reduce glare, but they may also block out subtle details about the surroundings because of the dye used in tinting the lenses.

Whether you are a deep sea diver or simply enjoy a quiet game of snooker, the range of

prescription sports eyewear currently available is extensive.

Each sport will require different features to be included to maximise the benefits you can achieve in your chosen sport and ensure you have the best protection your eyes deserve.

The good news is that there is a wide range of prescription sports eyewear available so there is no reason for your sport to suffer!

For further details on the range of sports eyewear available, pop into Deirdre Cooke Opticians or visit our website: www.deirdrecooke.com.

Email: info@deirdrecooke.com, Tel: 071 9170169

35

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Sligo GAA players of the future at the Centre of Excellence in Scarden

St. Johns U 9s. Coaches Seamus Casey & Gavin Patton.

Missing from photo are Sarah and Barry McNamara

St Michaels U 8 with coach Greg Cawley

Owenmore Gales U 9s with Simon Cashman, Justin Gilmartin, Frank Doherty, and Anthony Sweeney.

Ballisadare U 9s with Tom Dooner and Patrick Barrett

Drumcliffe / RossesPoint U. 9s with coaches Declan Carroll and Paul Mc Donagh.

St Johns U 9s B Team with coaches James Barnicle, Kirean Feeney, and Brian O Connor,

Lynns Dock, Sligo • Tel: 071-9157830

BEDS • SANDING • FLOORING

Laminate Floors Only €5.99 sqyd

Drumcliffe Rosses Point with coach Eddy O’Mahony

St Marys U.9s with coaches Mark Mulholland, Aiden Rooney and Simon Buckely

St Marys U 8s with coaches Niall Murray, Enda Brady.

St Molaise Gaels U 9s with coaches Tommy Cronin and Darren Egan

36

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Noirin Kelly

Noirin Kelly is a hairdresser and running enthusiast from Dromard, Co Sligo, who is currently in training for her first marathon.

She answers some of Kate Winter’s questions about the journey so far.

What was behind your decision to start running in the first place?

I was just looking for something different to get off the couch. My friend had called me and said we should do a couch to 5k program and I wasn’t sure I’d be able for that. But there’s a track right across the road from us, at the Screen/Dromard Community Centre, so there was no excuse, really. We started out running for a minute, walking for a minute, that kind of a way. It was an eight week program and my friend ended up giving up half way.

I kept at it though and I completed it, though let me tell you, there was no speed in it, it was just fun. I decided to keep going, and another few girls started with me. For the next year or so we did nothing but 5k’s and 10k’s and we were just delighted with ourselves.

And what brought you to the decision to do a marathon?

Well, initially I didn’t even think I’d be able for a ten k.

But eventually I just built up to it, lap by lap at the track. And then a couple of friends of mine were doing the marathon talking to me about it and I said “Are you crazy, not a hope!” I saw it as being for really fit sportspeople, not regular, ordinary people like me. So instead I tried the Warriors Run, which is a serious challenge in itself. I was happy enough with that one, to be honest!

I kept saying no to the marathon, even though they kept asking me, and eventually I started getting bored of the running training.

So I stopped for a month or so, and then to avoid ending up back on the couch I joined the Avena Leisure Centre. They have a bodysculpt class there on a Wednesday night, and boy oh boy there is nothing that

will prepare you for John and Jason’s class. It’s ridiculously hard and you’re in a puddle by the end. But I kept going with it because it was a great workout and always felt like an achievement by the end.

I had a gym plan designed for me by John, with cardio and core work, but the main thing was weights. I had been building up the deadlifts for a while... and then one day he was sat on the bench in front of me with 100kg for me to lift.

I had managed 60kg and 80kg, and struggled to 90. I said to him, “Are you for real?” and he shouted back at me “You’ve yourself told you can’t do it before you’ve even tried!” And that was so true.

I lifted the 100kg... I realised I had been doing the same about running the marathon too, so that was that decision made. It was like he turned a switch on in me. If I could do that, I could do anything.

How much of the challenge do you think is down to mental strength and determination versus physical?

Do you know, I think the whole training thing changes your whole view on life. It’s not even about running, in a way. It’s like your whole appreciation of things is changed. Anyone can do it.

It’s just about getting the focus to do it and the want.

So in that way, it’s all in the head. The body will follow the mind.

Do you think you’d have been able to get this far without the coaching from Emmett Dunleavy?

Sure I thought I was great when I started out with Emmett! I was buzzing from lifting 100kg! But after he did the lactate tests with me and I got the email with my results, it was obvious there was serious work to do. How did he put it? “You’re doing great, but your fitness levels and your aerobic levels are very low.” Oh my God! He said I’d be fine though and he was so reassuring, he said we had plenty of time. It was ridiculously slow at the beginning, but every week I would download all my stuff

and do the work. It’s always varied and there’s no possible way you could get bored...

He always has something positive to say and when you have that back-up, it’s such a help. I trust him, and he tells me I can do this, so I believe I can.

do it without them. There’s three or four of us banging along the roads and telling each other how hard it is at the moment!

Recovery days and rest days are very important too.

The older you get, the more time it takes you to recover.

What does your training and conditioning typically consist of?

There’s no day typical, because Emmett has it all so varied. I have a rest day and I do a few runs during the week to keep the legs going around. We do lactate days too, which consist of a warm up, a cool down and three stints at a comfortably hard pace. Most of the sessions are under an hour, and I can’t tell you how easy it is. Thirty or forty minute runs, the lactate sessions, hill sprints, it’s actually enjoyable.

I train with my friends who are also doing the marathon a bit, too. I probably couldn’t

What do you feel have been your greatest achievements so far on this journey?

The Athlone Half Marathon last week was a huge one.

Even half way through it I was wondering how I would get through it.

But I did. It was the strangest feeling of emptiness at the end. Like there’s just nothing left and you’ve wiped the board.

Lifting that 100kg is still there on my list, too! That turned everything around for me.

Are you ready for this marathon?

I’m not ready yet, but I’ll be ready in five weeks!

37

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

GRANGE 10K RUN/WALK members of Sligo AC well sprinkled throughout the field. Ultan McNasser ran 35:27 with Kevin Mc Glone slicing 30 seconds of his PB by running 35:43. The combination of Gorman, Somers, McNasser and Mc Glone ensured Sligo AC attained the male team prize.

Other Sligo AC members who competed very well were

T

here were some excellent Sligo AC performances in the Grange 10k on Sunday.

Conditions were favourable for the 88 competitors on the well marshalled loop course which is one of the longest established road races in Sligo.

Sligo AC athletes were very much to the fore and Richard Gorman added to his substantial trophy cabinet and was a comfortable winner in 32:38.

Gorman ran very well throughout the race. A contingent consisting of Gorman, Patrick Brennan (Finn Valley) and Mary

Cullen (North Sligo AC) ran as a group from the starting line in Grange village. However, around the 2.5K mark, Gorman opened up an unassailable lead and held on for a notable victory and a repeat of his 2014 success. Sligo AC’s Seamus Somers is also in a rich vein of form at the moment. He passed Mary Cullen at the 5K mark and finished in 3rd place overall with a new PB of 33:34.

Meanwhile Mary Cullen was an easy winner of the women’s race finishing 4th overall in 33:48. In total there were 22

Roy Kelly (37:08), James Callaghan (38:23), Michael Casey (39:08), who was 2nd M50, Nicky Davey (39:41), Neal Higgins (39:49), Michael Clancy (41:49), Simon McLoughlin (42:34), Catherine Monaghan (46:38), Michael Higgins (46:53), Noelle Galvan (47:06), John Foley (47:16), Pauline Henry (47:40), Brendan McCarrick (48:45), Andrew McGonagle (49:43), Olivia Branley (52:00), Malachy Gillen (52:26), Aziz AlHawi (56:48) and Jim Rushe (58:19).

Well done to the Sligo AC ladies who were 2nd in the Ladies team prize. The team consisted of Catherine Monaghan (1st F50), Noelle Galvan, Pauline Henry and Olivia Branley. Well done to Michael Carney and North Sligo AC on the staging of another fine race.

GILLIGAN CYCLES

Starting Monday October 19th & Thursday October 22nd

Active Seniors Class

Mondays 10.30am to 11.15am • Introductory Class on 19th Oct FREE

Sanovitae Aquafit

Thursdays 12.30pm to 1.15pm • Introductory Class on 22nd Oct FREE Come along and bring a friend to try these new classes absolutely free.

(Normal charge €5)

Sanovitae Health & Spa Clarion Hotel, Sligo • Tel: 071-9119037 sanovitae@clarionhotelsligo.com

We at Gilligan Cycles have been trading in bicycles for the past 4 years.We stock all sorts of bikes, racing, hybrid, mountain, 29er, 650b, city, in our store in Grange Co Sligo Ireland.

All our bikes are brand new, boxed,and 90% build A large part of our business has come from the UK where we export 30% of our bikes.

All the bikes are have a 1yr warranty Our main aim is to have happy customers and we believe if we look after our customers our business looks after itself

Shop online @ gilligan-cycles.myshopify.com or Call 087-9416198

38

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Irish Football: The Steady Decline

By Gavin Thompson-Place

F

ootball season is well and truly underway Ladies and Gentleman. The Premiership has thrown up more surprises than David Cameron’s past endeavours, British clubs supposedly “Top Teams” are floundering in Europe and Robert Lewandowski is breaking the internet every time he strolls onto the pitch. Yes, it’s been all very exhilarating. And then comes along another International break to soften our excitement and take the edge off.

Ireland host World Champions Germany and Lewandowski and Co in the coming days, and already there is a rather dread feeling in the air.

As an Irishman, being a proud and loyal supporter of anything remotely sporting comes naturally. We do quite well this little nation of ours; Katie Taylor is the face of woman’s boxing. The enigmatic Connor McGregor rise to prominence in MMA and UFC has been well documented. But the national team fails to inspire any hope or imagination

compared to days of yester year. Remember the 2002 World Cup? Where the drama of qualifying was a sight to behold, pipping a Dutch team full of World Class talent to the play-off spot.

Making the Portuguese team led by the magnificent Luis Figo sweat home and away.

There was an actual belief going to Japan and Korea we could go far, sure even Carlsberg did an intelligent ad campaign. Then came the Roy Keane fiasco……..

We have produced established talent over the last half a century; Liam Brady, John Gilles, Paul McGrath, Dennis Irwin, Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Ronnie Whelan and so on and so forth. I’m not taking a dig at players that represent our country today, sure some of them are upmost professionals and play well for their respected clubs week in week out, and make a good living all the while, but where is the passion for playing for your country gone?

We never had the World Class ground breakers; The Messi’s, Ronaldo’s and Zidane’s. But we did have

heart, commitment, tactual astuteness, hard work ethic aligned with togetherness and belief we could beat anyone. But while viewing the Gibraltar game (on the first dreary International break), something became apparent. These are the whipping boys of the group.

But at stages; played some very attractive and expansive football which caused us problems. One glaring opportunity that stands out is; they have dropped deep, as yet another Irish attack breaks down. But surprisingly Gibraltar didn’t hoof it and step out. Instead recycled the ball, played some lovely one-two’s and opened up the Irish midfield which led to a well taken long ranged effort, that Shay Given was forced to save. There and then it became wildly obvious why we’re in a state of flux. Our onus and philosophy was never built on the creative individual and passing game. Nothing to do with our lack of commitment to the cause, or playing for our country becoming a bore. Purely we haven’t taking that next step in the way we perceive our

footballing ambitions. Wes Hoolahan for example is the creative hub in Norwich’s team. Playing just behind the strikers either as false nine or free role, yet up until recently he couldn’t get a whiff of the turf, never mind a game.

Unfortunately too little, too late. Wes is coming to his twilight years, and the team should have been built around his creative talents a long time ago. But for some reason, we are afraid, or too stubborn to let imagination in youth development override the result. That from a grass roots level; our coaching is one dimensional and selfrewarding. That we don’t think about our insatiable needs putting a damper on player development.

I had a brief conversation with a brilliant youth coach and UEFA Pro Licence holder about the ways we are holding back our football as a nation due to over rewarding winning from a young age. His statement was this; “Managers and Coaches that never played the game or never got to the highest peak of the game don’t have the necessary

education to develop young players. They may have been given a false sense of entitlement early on and are still trying to justify themselves rather than the most important part; Player expression and team collectiveness. All children can grasp information due to their sponge like minds. But ultimately it’s about letting them explore creative football and play as much as possible. Winning should always be secondary to the performance early on.

Technique, honing their skills and team bonding are far more important than anything at that age, as it allows them freedom of expression. Unfortunately, winning still prevails. Trophies are still the way we perceive great coaching at under age level in this country. But tell me; when a young man gets the chance of trials at a club in England or Europe. Do you think it matters to prospective club if he has abundance of silverware at home? It’s about expression, and the collective force of the team, not the individual accolades.

This is why we continue to fall further behind our peers.”

Peter Davey & Stanley Harte Connacht Emerald Masters B doubles 60 x 30 champions Congratulations to Peter Davey & Stanley Harte who won the Connacht Emerald Masters B doubles 60 x 30 final in Collooney last month. The pair defeated Mike Mullenny & Colomba Halloran of Mayo 21-19, 21-12

19 year old academy prop Conan O'Donnell with his family after last weeks game. The Sligo man made his Connacht debut coming on late in the second half.

They now progress to represent us at the All-Ireland handball championships 60 x 30 semi-finals on Sunday 11th October in St. Coman’s, Roscommon at 2pm They will be up against Tipperary’s Martin Ryan and Gary Howard

CONNAUGHT AMUSEMENTS - Suppliers of -

• POOL TABLES • VIDEO JUKEBOXES • COIN & NOTE OPERATED MACHINES

Tel: 087-2435463

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Sligo’s Cycling Scene

All Stars IN ACTION T

Mark Foley

PHOTOS: Jordan Cummins • Email: jordancumminsphotography@gmail.com

39

he cycling scene in Sligo has somewhat changed over the past number of years. From possibly a very strong competitive road scene 10 to 20 years ago.

Now there is a diversity from that and much variety on the two wheel push bike which makes up a large cycling community in the Sligo Region.

There is 4 main cycling clubs in the area, The North West Mountain Bike Club, covering everything to do with mountain biking in forests, trails, cross country, cyclo cross and downhill. The Innisfree Wheelers, promoting leisure cycling, healthy cycling in beginner programs and inclusion of one and all, with a general ethos of “love riding your bike in a nice social environment”. The Bottecchia Cycling Club also promotes leisure and development on the bike and has a competitive road racing and cyclocross element. The Eire Og Cycling Club, the longest serving club in the region, while always maintaining the road racing side also promote many open races, leagues, sportive’s and coaching programs.

2015 has been an interesting year for Sligo cycling with a number of notable performances and achievements.

Sandra Deery, a former underage All-Ireland Road champion now holds the woman’s national 24 hour Time Trial record, thanks to her efforts on what must have been the longest day of her life – the 19th July 2015, cycling 394.15 miles in 24 hours. Finally achieving her ambition of becoming a National Record Holder.

Eire Og’s Stevie Finnegan produced a fine performance at the veterans national championships in Omagh, last June, having been active at the front of the race for key periods he unfortunately missed the winning break of two who fought out for the gold and silver, but the ever experienced Finnegan had managed to keep some fuel in the tank to sprint in for the bronze medal.

Aidan Mullane of Bottecchia cycling club has made a major impression on the cycling scene for the short time that he has been in it. Just having one leg, Aidan cycling a bike is an inspiring sight and he can move quickly too. An early leader of Sligo’s Summer Cycling League, his commitments to the Paracycling Ireland team meant he was unable to complete the final rounds and victory went to Carmel Regan of

Curlew Wheelers in Boyle.

North West Mountain Bike Club have in the past few years brought this unknown side to cycling back to the fore, and it has attracted some former roadies and brought new faces to the sport and new stars. Graham Keigron and Warner Wilders have implemented a strong coaching structure and with Jack Connor winning the Under 16 Connacht cross country title those coaching gains are already starting to pay off for the club. Local triathlete/cyclist and coach Ronan McNamara finished a very credible 2nd in the elite Connacht cross country race just behind Sligo’s Mark Scanlon who took the top position and the Connacht elite title. Mark a former Junior World Champion and Elite Professional cyclist has made a return to the sport through Mountain biking.

Innisfree Wheelers who are approaching there 10th birthday celebrations on the 30th October, are a very active bunch, they run a summer Time Trial League, The Tour of Three Counties, Spanish Training Camps, The Yeats 200, Ladies Tour of Lough Gill and The Santa Cycle, included also are Bike For Life coaching programs and if that is not enough, they also take part in the Connacht League TT series, Skoda Cycle series, An Post Cycle series, Etape de Giro in Belfast, Etape Du Tour in the Alps, Ox Mountain Challenge, Lough Key Classic, Donegal Summer League, Ring of Kerry, Chain Driven Cycles TT series among many others including charity events where they have contributed to some very worthy causes. All this cycling by Innisfree Wheelers done in the spirit of sociable and pleasurable fun!

It is the 60th year of racing for the Eire Og Cycling club, one of the longest established racing clubs in the country. Mountain biking became a focus.

Daire Mooney secured victory at the Connacht League in MooreHall and a Silver medal for Jake Mooney in the Connacht Championships.

On the road racing front a Bronze medal for Paul Kehoe in the Connacht Time Trial Championship was achieved.

Races promoted by Eire Og included the Mooney trophy, Markievicz Cup, Connacht Road Champs, County Road & TT champs, events over National BikeWeek, and they will be running the Connacht Cyclo Cross Champs at Christmas.

40

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

SSRP Super Valu Athletics Festival a Great Success!

BALLINTOGHER NATIONAL SCHOOL

T

he annual Super Valu Primary Schools Athletics Fest co ordinated by Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership took place on Friday 25th September and proved to be a great success with a record number of schools and participants enjoying a great event at the athletics arena at IT Sligo.

One thousand one hundred and forty primary school children representing forty two primary schools from all over County Sligo took part.

For some schools it was there first time to attend the event including St. Theresa’s NS Ballintogher This was the twelth year for this popular event which

2015 SUPERVALU ATHLETIC FEST ROSSES POINT 1ST JUNIOR GIRLS 100M RELAY

focuses on participation and sport for all. There were great displays of athleticism and effort from all participants with the top award in the nine categories going to nine different schools. Certificates of participation and an event t shirt was presented to all athletes in recognition of their sporting effort.

The event was kindly supported by Super Valu stores in Sligo. On the day, a team of volunteers from County Sligo Athletics Association, Athletics clubs throughout the county, a group of transition year students from Sligo Grammer School and SSRP staff worked collectively to ensure the event went off smoothly.

Event co ordinator, Theresa Kilgannon of Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership stated

“This year witnessed the biggest entry of schools and participants. It is great to see the positive response and support for this event from the many teachers who accompany their pupils to the day”. She added “The Athletics clubs, volunteers and the event sponsor Super Valu, all contribute to a great sporting esperience for the young people involved”.

CADBURY 1ST JUNIOR BOYS 100M RELAY

RESULTS Junior Girls 4 * 100 M 1st Scoil Realt na Mara Rosses Point, 2nd Gaelscoil Cnoc na Re, 3rd Rathcormac NS Junior Boys 4 * 100 M 1st Carbury NS, 2nd Gaelscoil Cnoc na Re, 3rd St. Brendans NS Junior Mixed 4 * 100 M 1st Rathcormac NS , 2nd Ransboro NS, 3rd Bunninnadden NS Senior Girls 4 * 100 M 1st St. Patrick’s NS Calry, 2nd Mercy Primary School, 3rd Bunninadden NS Senior Boys 4 * 100 M 1st Scoil Muire gan Smal Ballymote, 2nd Strandhill NS, 3rd Ransboro NS Senior Mixed 4 * 100 M 1st Ransboro NS, 2nd Scoil Ursula, 3rd Rathcormac NS Senior Girls 4 * 200 M 1st Holy Family Tubbercurry, 2nd Geevagh NS, 3rd Strandhill NS Senior Boys 4 * 200 M 1stMaugherow NS, 2nd Carraroe NS, 3rd St. Johns NS Senior Mixed 4 * 200 M 1st Scoil Naomh Molaise Grange, 2nd Culfadda NS, 3rd Carns NS Gurteen

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

41

CO. SLIGO HARRIERS CHILDRENS HUNT - COLLOONEY

MICHAEL MORAN Car Sales and Service Pontoon Road, Ross, Castlebar Come and See for Yourself Our Selection of Cars - Fully NCT’d and Ready to Go

Tel: 094-9022322 or 086-8341196

42

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

TARGET

SHOOTING Noelle Fearn

PHOTOS: JAMES CONNOLLY

AT LOUGH BO E

Stewart Clarke shoots a 38 calibre Rossi rifle in the Gallery Rifle 1500 competition

Gallery Rifle 1500 competition, kneeling position at 50m

very year, in September, the annual Lough Bo National Target Shooting match is held. This year, over 100 competitors travelled from all four provinces to compete over two days in a range of rifle and handgun sports.

With this being the last event for team selection prior to the upcoming World Championships in Germany, competition was fierce.

Target shooting is a far more popular, safe and accessible sport than many would expect.

From the ever popular clay pigeon shooting with shotguns, through rifle, handgun and indeed airgun sports. There is something for everyone.

Lough Bo Shooting Centre caters for them all and has

Rifle and Pistol shooters on the same line in the Multi-Target Competition

been flying the flag for target shooting in the Northwest for many years. Indeed some of our top competitors hail from Lough Bo. If you have ever wondered what it would be like to try your hand, can picture yourself collecting a medal at the Lough Bo National one year and perhaps going on to compete in the Irish Open or even the World Championships, then you should give Gerry and the team in Lough Bo a call.

Keep an eye out for how Ireland does in the 2015 World Championships in Germany and follow their preparation for the 2017 World Championships, which will be held in Ireland

Shooters prepere to put 12 shots on the target, including a reload in 20 seconds on the 10m line in Gallery Rifle 1500 competition

Rifle and Pistol shooters on the same line in the Multi-Target Competition

Jim O’Neill and sixteen year old Ciara Byrne

A line of pistol shooters in the Gallery Rifle T&P1 competition

Tom Egan shoots a 10/22 rifle

Stewart Clarke shoots a 38 calibre Rossi underlever rifle in the Gallery Rifle 1500 competition.

And Andy McGowana 38 calibre Marlin underlever rifle in the Gallery Rifle

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

43

CANNONBALL SLIGO PHOTOS: PATRICK REGAN MOTORSPORT PHOTOGRAPHY (TEL: 086-8520613)

QUIT SMOKING AND START VAPING! The best prices for top quality e-liquids, e-cigarettes and accessories

The largest selection in County Sligo

Wine Street, Sligo • Main Street, Carrick on Shannon • Online: ecigarettesworld.ie

44

BOYLAN SIGNS TWO YEAR CONTRACT

S

ligo Rovers are thrilled to announce that Gary Boylan has signed a new two-year contract at The Showgrounds.

The versatile Boylan has been one of the outstanding performers for the Bit o’Red this year having come through the club’s underage system.

The 19 year-old is now committed to the club to the end of the 2017 season.

He has made a total of 31 appearances for the club so far including 22 this year, all as starts.

Speaking to sligorovers.com the Bellmullet man said he was delighted to be signing for the next two years: “I am very happy to have signed. It’s really nice to be sorted here for the next two years. It is great for me to have that stability. This is the club I want to be at. I’m just going to give everything I can now, keep my head down and work hard.”

Boylan has been a bright spot in a disappointing season for the club but he is enjoying the

experience and feels the club can turn things around: “I definitely have enjoyed being able to play regularly this year. It has not been a successful year for us but I have enjoyed playing. I have made over 20 appearances and every game I am learning. I am learning from the gaffer, from Alan Rogers and from all the other players. They have fantastic experience.

“I definitely think that we can do well in the future. We have had a bad season but it happens to the best of clubs. We just have to put in hard work to make sure that we get through it. Hopefully next season we can turn it around and be at the opposite end of the table and have a good year.”

Boylan’s versatility has been a great asset with him appearing across the back four as well as in midfield and he is happy to play wherever asked: “At the moment I am playing right-back and I had been playing centre midfield before. I feel that my first choice is

the play right-back and I can offer most there. But I am happy to play wherever the gaffer asks me be that right-back, in midfield or at centre-half.”

Micky Adams thinks that it was important to get Boylan signed as he thinks he is a player with a lot of ability and potential to improve.

Adams said: “He still has a lot to learn first and foremost. But he is a very wholehearted player and is very versatile. He is not the finished article by any means but there is enough ability there to work with for the future.

“It is good to get players on longer contracts, it gives them stability in life and they can concentrate on playing their best football. “He has still got a bit to do though. There are things to improve on like we have been getting him in the gym to improve physically but the potential is there in him.”

Article courtesy of sligorovers.com

New grass pitches open This weekend we were delighted to open our new grass pitch at The Showgrounds.

The pitch was opened with the hosting of 12 Sligo/Leitrim under-

11 games. Their games will continue to be played here for the duration of the coming season. The grass pitch, located behind the Jinks Avenue Stand, is

part of the development of facilities carried out at The Showgrounds along with the FIFA 2-star all-weather pitch at The Sean Fallon Centre.

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Under-19s hammer Letterkenny Sligo Rovers under-19s coasted to a big 6-0 win against Letterkenny Rovers at The Showgrounds recently.

The result was never really in doubt for Ciaran Kelly’s team who are now three unbeaten.

Three changes were made to the team as Paul Doyle, Gary Armstrong and Mark Hannon came in for Jason Hunt, Mikey Place and Callum Frempong.

Armstrong, Borotto and Flanagan all had decent chances to score inside the first 20 minutes of the game but none could convert their chances.

Centre forward Liam Flatley got the scoring started on 22 minutes however. The keeper was able to save his first attempt after running onto Doyle’s pass but his second attempt went into the empty net.

Doyle should have got the second three minutes later as Flatley almost turned provider but then Doyle did get an assist on 31. His corner came to fullback Borotto who spun well and finished low.

Flatley went closest to adding to it before half-time but it stayed 2-0.

It wasn’t until three-quarters way into the game that the Bit o’Red finally made one for the many chances count. Borotto trickled the ball into the left channel where Flatley took over and finished well past the keeper. Sub Carney got his first of the afternoon in similar fashion. This time Ross Taheny picked out the pass as Carney peeled off his man and then opened up to shoot into the corner of the net. One minute later Rovers attacked again with Brian Morley running laterally across the face of the box before unleashing his shot low into the back of the net.

The final goal was scored on 85 minutes. Flatley played the ball over from the right of the box and it came via Hannon to Carney who was waiting at the goal-line to tap in his second.

The win completed a great weekend for the club which seen both underage teams and the first team earn home wins.

Sligo Rovers: Burke, O’Donoghue (Kennoy 70), Taheny(c) (Doherty 70), McCallion, Borotto, Flanagan, Hannon, Morley (Anderson 79), Armstrong (Hunt 70), Doyle (Carney 70), Flatley.

QUANTITY SURVEYOR Domestic or Commercial All costing and estimating provided

Contact Albert Clasby on 087-8213768

45

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse Road, Sligo Tel: 071-9161053 or 071-9190408 • www.sligopark.com

Spinning & Aqua Fit Classes

PROFESSIONAL TANNING AND SLIMMING STUDIO

€5 for members and €8 for non-member

V-LINE active slimming on vibro-treadmill in the vacum Complimentary Classes for Members Body Sculpt - 45 Minutes - €7 for non-members Core - 30 Minutes - €5 for non-members Pump - 45 Minutes - €7 for non-members

Ready to get Fit...

• Burn Fat, up to 1500kcl in 30 min • Reduce Cellulite • Drop 1 clothes size in one month SPECIAL OFFER: 20x30min plus FREE 5x30min rollomassage... €130 BOOK YOUR FREE 15min TRIAL ON 0871123622

TANNING

• FREE birthday tan • Every 6th tanning /course FREE Check instore for our latest Promotions

Sligo Group Fitness & Pilates

PRICE LIST FOR TANNING COURSES 30min. €20 • 40min €25 • 70min. €43

We have classes that will get your heart pumping such as TRX, spinning and kettlebells and also offer less intensive programs specifically tailored to seniors which compensate for immobility and health issues as well as Running for Beginners and high intensity Tabata/Rebounding.

We offer a Battle the bulge class for the larger individual, We believe in living a healthy and happy life through an active fitness regime. We are involved in the local community around Strandhill and regularly participate in events throughout Sligo.

Catering for Kids birthday parties and camps

Aileen: 086-8239966 • Miriam: 087-9104713 fitness4all2@yahoo.ie • www.fitness4allsligo.com Airport Road, Strandhill, Co. Sligo

Open: Monday - Friday 11-8 • Saturday 11-7 • Sunday 2-5

Telephone: 086-6211792 • Mobile: 087-1123622 Quayside Shopping Centre (Second Floor), Wine Street, Sligo

46

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

SLIGO CITY BADMINTON CLUB L ast Saturday heralded two massive developments for Badminton in Sligo. The 2015 Connacht Badminton Open was the first Open Badminton competition ever played in Summerhill College. It was also the first Badminton competition hosted by the newly reformed, ‘Sligo City Badminton Club’.

Sligo City Badminton club played for many years in the Presbyterian one court hall on Church Street behind the Hawk’s Well Theatre. This club had over fifty members at one point but over time all the one court halls in Sligo closed down as players were drawn to bigger venues with more courts. Sligo City Badminton Club last played in a local league in 1991when there were circa six to seven teams playing in the league. The league disappeared as there was only one club in the Sligo environs and none in Sligo City. St. John’s hall was the last hall with a club in the city. Some of these players are already part of the new City club with more to come. It gives us great pleasure to be playing in Summerhill College’s new state of the art sports hall. It’s a newly built four court badminton hall with exceptional heating and air conditioning. Having been to numerous badminton halls throughout the country I haven’t experienced facilities as good as Summerhill’s.

The players in our club are greatly indebted to Paul Keogh, Summerhill’s Principal, and his staff, who have gone out of their way to welcome us in to their school. Especially Pat Tuohy (P.E. Dept.) and John

Moran – a Basketball coach in the school for the past fifteen years who have accommodated us and ensured the hall is available.

Thanks also to Pete Hamilton and his team who ensure that the hall and changing rooms are perfectly maintained.

Indeed Pete made sure the courts were in pristine condition for our competition on Saturday by washing them late Friday night.

I can’t talk about Summerhill College without mentioning Tommy Mc Manus- Paul Keogh’s predecessor. When we needed a hall at different times two years ago Tommy came to our aid. He made us welcome and was proud to have Summerhill College supporting a new sport venture in the community. Fortunately, Paul Keogh and the Summerhill Board of Management share Tommy’s vision and regard Summerhill as more than a school. They see it as part of the community. Our thanks to Dr. Michael Duignam (Chairperson) and the Summerhill Board of Management for facilitating Sligo City Badminton Club.

Summerhill could not operate as well as it clearly does without the enthusiastic support of the Board. Many of our club’s badminton players once walked the corridors of Summerhill and some have photos on the walls outside the sports hall. Decades ago many of us represented Summerhill in Soccer and Gaelic. It’s a matter of great pride for us as past pupils to be back playing in our old school.

Past pupils who were

Aengus Sheerin - Referee, Anthony Walsh - Connacht Badminton, Paul Keogh – Principal Summerhill College, Paul Dolan – Chairman Sligo City Badminton Club, Carol Ui Fhearghail – Court Offical, Catherine Dolphin – Court Official National badminton champions include Danny Keown, Conor Scanlon and Jonathan Dolan.

In time our club intend to strengthen the link between the school players and our club players. We already have boys from the school such as Conor Mc Gowan and Jack Quinn playing in our club.

Some players such as Joey Bird, who played in the old City Club, are back playing in the new City Club. The late Eileen Mc Mullen was also a member way back and her son, Graham, is the current Club Pro. The last Secretary of Sligo City Badminton in the 1990’s,

Aengus Sheerin, was the tournament referee at the weekend. We hope to see Aengus back on the court in the near future. We will be holding an open night in the near future and we hope to have as many former City Badminton players with us on the night. We are hopeful that the revival of this great old club will inspire the revival of some other clubs such as the Gillooly Hall, Oxfield, St. John’s, Strandhill, Rosses Point, Coolera and Maugherow. Already we have over fifty members with many locals playing as well as people travelling more than fifty miles to play in our club.

New members (and old ones) are always welcome.

If you fancy hitting a shuttlecock come to Summerhill on Tuesday’s and Thursday’s at 8pm. We welcome and cater for all standards from beginners to National champions. If you have any interest or want to find out more contact Paul Dolan (Chairperson) on 0876100108 (email: paul.dolan5@yahoo.ie)or come along any Tuesday or Thursday night. For more information about the club have a look at our facebook page – Sligo City Badminton Club.

‘TWO OUT OF THREE AINT BAD’ FOR WALSH IN THE 2015 CONNACHT BADMINTON OPEN Sligo City Badminton Club had its first tournament win two weeks ago in Lisburn when Adam Mc Allister won the Ulster U17 Doubles competition. Adam is coached in Summerhill College by another Sligo City player, Jonathan Dolan.

Adam was coached to a National standard by Paul Lynch in Ballaghaderreen Badminton Club. To perform at a higher level he now travels to Sligo with Ben Gallagher Lynch several times a week to play with, and be coached by Jonathan who was the National Men’s Singles and Double’s champion last year.

Not content with his win in Lisburn Adam played at the weekend in the Connacht Open. This is an adult competition which is open to players of all standards including Senior International players such as Jonathan and his partner David Walsh. Sarah

Boyle (Dublin) and her partner Rachel Darragh (Raphoe) are current Irish Senior Internationals who took part at the weekend.

Although there were several local winners, the performance of the day was produced by Adam and his men’s doubles partner, Brian Mc Gowan (Sligo City). They progressed to the Men’s Doubles semi-final. This was Adam’s first Senior Open. His playing partner is slightly more experienced having won the National Senior Doubles Championship twenty one years ago.

A Sligo City player, David Walsh, who hails from Ballina, was the star of the 2015 Connacht Open Badminton Championship. We claim him as one of our own because he and Jonathan have trained together in Sligo for the past six years. David is a long standing member of Ballina Badminton Club and

also a member of Sligo City Badminton club. He made a dramatic return from a lengthy injury reaching three finals and winning two of them.

David and Jonathan won the Men’s Doubles even though they weren’t seeded.

It’s good to see Dolan back after a break from the game.

As a partnership they will be hard to beat this year. David won the Mixed Doubles playing with Moya Ryan from Ennis. This was an impressive start for this new partnership.

They had to beat a current Senior International and her partner on their way to the title.

In the mixed doubles the number one seeded partnership was Rachel Darragh and Paul Reynolds while the number two seed was the Pembroke partnership of Laura Hennessy and John Amond. The number two seeds of Laura and John won

through to the final beating Old Bawn partnership of Karen Nelson and Adam Hanaphy in the semi-final.

The number one seeds Rachel and Paul had a tricky quarter final though where they met the new partnership of Moya Ryan and David Walsh. The new pair proved to be too strong.

Moya and David went on to beat the less experienced Connacht pairing of Molly Davies (GLTC) and Jack O Brien (Sligo City) in two sets in the semi-final.

The men’s singles went with seeding with the number one seed Nhat Nguyen and number two seed Nigel Boyne making the semi-finals. Nhat met Kevin Donnelly from Ailesbury and won through to the final in straight sets. Nigel met David Walsh from Ballina and after a tense three set match David made the final.

Nhat took the title beating David in a two set match.

The Ladies singles again went with seeding with number one seed Rachel Darragh and number two seed Moya Ryan making the semi-finals where Rachel beat Sara Boyle in straight sets and Moya beat Lucie Corcoran also in straight sets. This left the top two seeds in the final where Rachel took her first title of the day.

In the Ladies doubles the two top seeded pairings made the final with number one seeds Rachel Darragh and Sara Boyle beating Kate Frost and Moya Ryan in the first semi-final while on the other side of the draw Lucie Corcoran and Norma McIntyre beat Cliona Mc Gowan and Vicki Pesti. In the final Rachel and Sara won through giving Rachel her second title of the day.

This ended another successful Connacht Open with some great play and close matches.

47

SLIGO SPORT OCTOBER, 2015

RBB PARTY arrow boats the best lake boat you ever bought...

Rodeo Bull Hire for Kid's Party & Events From €195 including a Zoo Bouncy Size 4x4x4 mts Complimentary.

Pirate Ship Bouncy From €135 Size 8.2x4.2x4.2 mts Rodeo Bull Hire for Adults Party & Events From €250 Size of mattress 6x5 mts

Full Public Liability Cover, can be using in Pubs, Night Clubs, Community Hall, etc.

Tel: 087-0907188

David Gray launched Arrow Boats in the summer of 1989. He grew up on the shores of Sligo's Lough Arrow; an avid dry fly fisherman, he has pursued his mission to build the best possible lake boat.

David offers the purchaser a standard 19-ft lake boat, the exclusive 18-ft GT and the new 19.8 boat All boats are customisable with options such as added Minn Kota bow mount electric motors, fishfinders, and custom hydrofoils for individual balance & performance.

All types of Boats, Trailers, and Engines G.R.P. repairs

Lough Arrow, Ballindoon, Riverstown, Co. Sligo Telephone: 086-6815971 www.arrowboats.com

If you would like your Sports Club notes to be featured in the November Edition of

Michael O Doherty Plexus Bio Energy Approved therapist to help you retore your life energy. Treat conditions such as pain, stress, disease and sports injuries What can be treated?

Because we work at an energy level it doesn’t matter what your problem is. Our job is to deal with what causes your problem, so people come to our clinics with every conceivable problem be it physical, emotional or mental. Children also benefit hugely from the treatment.

How does the therapy work?

Your body is made up of energy and if this energy system becomes imbalanced then your body becomes. We balance that energy system with specially developed techniques which in turn allow the body to heal.

What is the role of the Plexus therapist?

The first step in the bodies healing process is to get your energy system balanced and flowing again. The Therapist will also create a health-care programme for you depending on what your problem is. This involves looking at your diet, teaching you how to deal with your stress on a daily basis, look at your muscular and skeletal system and most importantly get your mind focused on your journey back to health.

Contact Joseph McGuiness on 086 3051356

send them along with your photos to us at: seamus@sligosport.ie Or call 085-2498067 / 071-9154538

definitely not a snoozepaper!

We provide full ball stop solutions to a range of clubs schools, colleges, soccer , golf, rugby clubs, and all other areas where high netting is required, in retractable or stationary forms.

Along with supporting new net structure we also repair nets to our highest standard where possible.

Telephone: 086-0224141| sales@connachtsportsnets.com www.connachtsportsnets.com