Latest / On The Edge Sports Podcast / Sligo GAA Club Championship: Q/Final Previews
Transcript
- 0:15SPEAKER_01: Hello and welcome to our second podcast of the week.
- 0:17SPEAKER_01: Now we're going to preview the quarterfinals in the senior and intermediate championships coming up in the Sligo Club Championships.
- 0:24SPEAKER_01: And again, thanks to our sponsors, EJS Menzer and Reboot Fitness, as well as Sherlock's Butchers and Sweat Happens Reset and Recovery Inter Recovery.
- 0:30SPEAKER_01: Darn, let's go straight in.
- 0:32SPEAKER_01: We'll go we'll go Mary's and Kalera.
- 0:34SPEAKER_01: That's that's kind of again, as I say, I I'm new to all this world and I'm really I can get this, I can smell the excitement of this one already.
- 0:42SPEAKER_01: And from what I'm hearing, there's rivalry here.
- 0:44SPEAKER_01: There is rivalry.
- 0:45SPEAKER_01: So that sets it up for a taste.
- 0:46SPEAKER_01: And it's winner takes all, and and again, you have to go straight out the following week in a semi-final.
- 0:50SPEAKER_00: You do, and this is it.
- 0:52SPEAKER_00: This is crunch time now.
- 0:53SPEAKER_00: This is like there's no second chances, and it's finished on the day.
- 0:57SPEAKER_00: Yes, I was just checking my phone.
- 0:59SPEAKER_00: It's like it is it's extra time and penalties.
- 1:01SPEAKER_00: Penalties.
- 1:02SPEAKER_00: Great.
- 1:02SPEAKER_00: So you know, you could be in for a long day's football on Sunday because I'm not looking at it.
- 1:07SPEAKER_01: People are why like if you were tuning in, it's at two o'clock in Connolly Park and Caluny, and then at five o'clock in Bunning Adam Community Park is St.
- 1:12SPEAKER_01: Milosh Gales touristrand.
- 1:14SPEAKER_01: We're commenting to that and commenting on that one.
- 1:15SPEAKER_01: Uh so they're all on slide with GATV.
- 1:17SPEAKER_01: and on Ocean Family.
- 1:18SPEAKER_01: So just to get that out of the way first.
- 1:19SPEAKER_01: But uh yeah, like the bookies have it.
- 1:23SPEAKER_01: Who's favourites?
- 1:24SPEAKER_01: Kulera favourites and Melanja favorites, Melasia favourites.
- 1:26SPEAKER_01: Yeah, like well, like where's the question marks around Kalera?
- 1:29SPEAKER_01: Is it like is it Nile Murphy's ready to start?
- 1:31SPEAKER_01: Is it I presume I by the way, no one's confirmed, but I think Fola Ayurindi maybe only got one game back.
- 1:36SPEAKER_01: Yeah, is that correct?
- 1:37SPEAKER_01: Okay, so he should be back, obviously.
- 1:38SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and it's it's a game that there's there is huge rivalry in it.
- 1:43SPEAKER_00: There really is.
- 1:44SPEAKER_00: Like there, like I was even I was even parked there this morning and I was looking at there's a sign up there at Lark Hill Road, St.
- 1:51SPEAKER_00: Mary's GA Club, and right above it is Randsborough.
- 1:53SPEAKER_00: So like they're a stole throw away from each other, they really are, right?
- 1:56SPEAKER_00: Okay, because like you know, you talk about the rivalry between town teams or between country teams, they're right beside each other as well.
- 2:02SPEAKER_00: They really are.
- 2:03SPEAKER_00: Um and they've played each other in plenty of championship games over the last few years, but it's a long time since St.
- 2:10SPEAKER_00: Mary's bet them in a knockout championship game.
- 2:13SPEAKER_00: They have bet them in a couple of group games over the last few years, but when it really, really matters, St.
- 2:19SPEAKER_00: Mary's can't get across the line against them for whatever reason it is.
- 2:21SPEAKER_00: Koller seemed to have the hoodoo on them over the last few seasons.
- 2:25SPEAKER_00: Um, but I think Koller were firing a little bit heavier over the last few years than they are this year.
- 2:30SPEAKER_00: Like you know, and the question mark is obviously Niall Murphy, how fit is he?
- 2:35SPEAKER_00: Has he a full match in him?
- 2:36SPEAKER_00: He hasn't had a full match in a long time now.
- 2:39SPEAKER_00: And for Koller to get across the line, they're gonna need everybody there.
- 2:42SPEAKER_00: And we mentioned that Kevin Banks, his injury, how serious is it, is it gonna rule him out?
- 2:48SPEAKER_00: I know him, so I'd be saying that if he's anyways 50-50, he'll be getting on the field.
- 2:53SPEAKER_00: Do you know what I mean?
- 2:54SPEAKER_00: And obviously, if they get Fola back up there, and you if you're picking a team for Kaler Strandhill and you're putting Fola and Murph into a full forward line, for the opposition as well as for yourselves, it makes it a completely different kettle of fish.
- 3:08SPEAKER_00: It really does because it just the way that you play the firepower you have up there, um the way that the opposition has to definitely mark them in, other guys then can step up to the plate because they're the likes of Ross Daugherty and Mark McDaniel there in the half forward line, super young footballers, they really are.
- 3:27SPEAKER_00: And if you have to mark, if you have to end up marking two, three, four forwards, yeah, like has the opposition got the defenders to do that?
- 3:35SPEAKER_00: You know, I know that you mentioned in the previous pod that Samaris' backs are tight, yeah.
- 3:39SPEAKER_01: They were on the day I was watching, they just really were at they and they and they held out a tough full forward line against Eastern Harps as well.
- 3:46SPEAKER_01: But yeah, like obviously there's a different animal now.
- 3:51SPEAKER_00: And look at Kulera over the last couple of seasons have won these games.
- 3:55SPEAKER_00: You know, they've won real tight games like Samaris last year.
- 3:59SPEAKER_00: Obviously, they got bet in the semi-final last year, okay.
- 4:01SPEAKER_00: The Shamakales out in Cash on a Saturday night game.
- 4:05SPEAKER_01: But they gave them-you've told me that was a sensational game.
- 4:07SPEAKER_01: It was a great game.
- 4:09SPEAKER_00: But not for them, obviously, they weren't.
- 4:11SPEAKER_00: Say Mary's gives themselves too much to do in that game.
- 4:13SPEAKER_00: They ended up, I think at one stage they were 10 points down, and it was a game that they came back into it then, and they ended up kicking a couple of two-pointers at the start of the second half, brought them right back into it.
- 4:23SPEAKER_00: Then they got hit with another sucker punch of a goal, and they ended up having a goal chance late on, ended up losing by two points, I think it was in the end.
- 4:30SPEAKER_00: So they're back where they wanted to be, and when you get to, we were mentioning, you know, you get to this stage of the championship, it's you want to be getting back into a semi-final.
- 4:39SPEAKER_00: Like you this is knockout football now.
- 4:41SPEAKER_00: This is like no second chances in the group stages.
- 4:44SPEAKER_00: There's the small bit of trouble of the jeopardy, and we mentioned that at intercounty during the season as well.
- 4:50SPEAKER_00: When you don't have the jeopardy of being losing the game and you're completely out of championship, then that's when it boils down to let's see who can get across the line.
- 4:59SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and again, just to kind of look over the games, like uh St.
- 5:01SPEAKER_01: Mary's, they beat Touristrand the first day by four points, which on a forum book now looks quite good.
- 5:08SPEAKER_01: Uh, they were 2.14, they've beat Tupper Curry by four points.
- 5:11SPEAKER_01: Now all the teams beat Tupper Curry by a lot more, but in fairness, as we did say Tupper Curry have lost a few players since then.
- 5:15SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and that was Tober's first game of the championship also because they played the first game.
- 5:19SPEAKER_01: Mary's had played a number of games at league and everything like that.
- 5:21SPEAKER_01: Uh, and then now then this is the marker.
- 5:23SPEAKER_01: So I suppose we learn a lot next uh next Sunday.
- 5:26SPEAKER_01: Uh they did get beaten by seven points, Shamrack Gales.
- 5:28SPEAKER_01: And again, just from watching it, and you said it yourself as well, was Shamrack Gales just be seemed to be able to keep them at a distance, you know, without major pressure.
- 5:34SPEAKER_01: And then, of course, the last day, two-point win over Eastern Harps.
- 5:37SPEAKER_01: So, like, there's a good form line there.
- 5:39SPEAKER_01: Again, as we were saying, like a load of lads came into the team the last year, but you were saying that's quite quite a similar starting lineup as what played in the semi-camera.
- 5:48SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it wouldn't be a million miles away from it, obviously.
- 5:50SPEAKER_00: From the team that was named to start the last day, the likes of Paul Kalcoin and Eli Rooney and Robert Kelly Lynch and Patty Brady, all these guys started, but these are all you know, they're they're starters for Simiri's and have been for the last couple of years, like since like the likes of uh Eli and Patty Brady came on the scene, they've been starters, you know what I mean?
- 6:10SPEAKER_00: And it's one of these things that they change up their team the last day, right, against Eastern Harps and they know the kind of starter, the young guns, if you know what I mean, like they put in young Davy in there in the half-forward line.
- 6:23SPEAKER_00: And for Marky B and his management team, what do they do this weekend?
- 6:28SPEAKER_00: Do they go with the tried and tested, the age-old, or do they go with the young guns again and try and get the more experienced players on the pitch at the end of the game?
- 6:37SPEAKER_00: When like I'd be pretty sure this game is going to come down to the last ten minutes.
- 6:41SPEAKER_01: And don't see anyone running away with it.
- 6:43SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I don't, I don't, I really don't.
- 6:44SPEAKER_00: Not just with the way that the thing is and the the rivalry that's there and the games that they've had over the last couple of seasons.
- 6:50SPEAKER_00: So if it does come down to the last 10 minutes, do you want your we'll we'll call them the elder statesman or the more experienced players on the pitch at that stage, or do you start them and when the tank is empty, do you take them off and you don't have the experience for the last 10-15 minutes on the fight?
- 7:03SPEAKER_01: It's funny, like you know, as you said, at the last day they made a triple substitution, if I remember correctly, Emlin, Stephen Cohen came on and Finn Young.
- 7:09SPEAKER_01: And Finn Young ended up getting a point.
- 7:10SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
- 7:11SPEAKER_00: Uh but like, yeah, it'll be an intriguing one because it will, of course, because you've got to get the matchups right, you've got to get, you know, you don't know what injuries are going to come out during the week.
- 7:20SPEAKER_00: You've, you know, you like the way that training is now, if you're going week to week, and there's not an awful lot of training you can do during the week, and especially if you've picked up a small bit of a knock at you know the last group game, you come into a quarter final carrying that knock, you might in the last ten minutes, you know.
- 7:36SPEAKER_00: So there's the conundrums that the players and the management have to make themselves, and it's it's a game that you know I I honestly I cannot call it.
- 7:47SPEAKER_00: And usually I would have said that I would make Kulera favourites against Samaris just based on what I've watched over the last few seasons, but just not with the form lines of Kulera in.
- 7:56SPEAKER_00: Like I think you have Kulera's uh Kulera's results there, yeah.
- 8:00SPEAKER_01: So again, obviously Drumcliff had a very impressive victory over them again.
- 8:03SPEAKER_01: First game of the season, but it was 23 points to 118.
- 8:05SPEAKER_01: Uh, then they obviously they they give uh Kalani a good clip in 418 to 15 points.
- 8:10SPEAKER_01: Uh then again, it was a draw against Easky.
- 8:12SPEAKER_01: So you're kind of going, was their heads not in at that day?
- 8:15SPEAKER_01: Obviously, there was a there was a red card in that as well.
- 8:17SPEAKER_01: So maybe little factors like that.
- 8:18SPEAKER_01: Uh, and then of course they drew with Malosh Gales.
- 8:21SPEAKER_01: Now, again, could argue it wasn't a very important game, but as you said, Niall Murphy, is he going to now start?
- 8:26SPEAKER_01: Sean Taylor's back, it's a huge addition.
- 8:28SPEAKER_01: Uh, so so like again, and this is my limited insight, you know what I mean?
- 8:33SPEAKER_01: It's like it just seems as you I don't know how you'd pick the difference there.
- 8:36SPEAKER_01: Like I was at Mary's have a lot of young fellas.
- 8:37SPEAKER_01: Was it the bench that came on that that started that to the guys listed to be on the bench, and then the the stalwarts, let's say, being able to come on.
- 8:44SPEAKER_01: So there's a good mix in a big squad, and as I said, I was very impressed by their defence the last game.
- 8:48SPEAKER_00: When it gets to this stage of championship now, that's when your squad is really tested.
- 8:51SPEAKER_00: Um I would say on paper, say Mary's have a stronger squad.
- 8:56SPEAKER_00: Have they or will they have a stronger 15 come the 60th minute on Sunday afternoon?
- 9:02SPEAKER_00: That's what what time is going to tell.
- 9:04SPEAKER_00: But based on their squad, I would say strength and depth to probably have the better squad.
- 9:09SPEAKER_00: And if Kulera haven't got all their players on the pitch or they pick up an injury during the game, I just don't think that the strength and depth they don't have the players to come in to replace the other players.
- 9:18SPEAKER_00: And that's just my opinion on it.
- 9:20SPEAKER_01: You know, I could be here for we're already here, we're having a chat and a crack, like you know what I mean.
- 9:24SPEAKER_01: So, yeah, so I know that I'm looking forward to well.
- 9:26SPEAKER_01: We're hoping to go and watch that one before we head out to uh to Bunanadin for our own game.
- 9:29SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh, and then just very quickly, the other game, of course, is Tour de Stran.
- 9:33SPEAKER_01: Sorry, no, I'm just pulling up on my graphics here.
- 9:35SPEAKER_01: Uh Tour Lestran versus St.
- 9:37SPEAKER_01: Meloche Scales, and this is in Bunan Adden, five o'clock Sunday, and again it's live on Sligo GATV.e and on Ocean FM.
- 9:43SPEAKER_01: Where does this one go?
- 9:44SPEAKER_01: Where do you see this one going?
- 9:45SPEAKER_00: If you asked me this a month ago, I would have said that I could not see how Tour de Strand would be have a kick in them to get to a semi-final this year.
- 9:54SPEAKER_00: And I say that you don't win championships out in Touristran six or seven in a row without having a bit of pride in yourselves.
- 10:02SPEAKER_00: And if they had that restored that pride and they had got players back on the field and they had got a game plan in place, that there could be a team to be reckoned with.
- 10:11SPEAKER_00: And by God, have they done that over the last few weeks?
- 10:14SPEAKER_01: Yeah, they've been very impressive.
- 10:15SPEAKER_01: I mean, like as we said, okay, they did lose to Mary's 312 to 316, four point centers.
- 10:19SPEAKER_01: Uh they drew with Shamrock Gales, yeah.
- 10:22SPEAKER_01: You know, uh and then yeah, and then they beat Eastern Harp.
- 10:26SPEAKER_01: So maybe this is the dark horse.
- 10:28SPEAKER_01: Maybe people are forgetting.
- 10:29SPEAKER_01: Again, we learn on Sunday.
- 10:30SPEAKER_01: We will, of course, and then they they give Tupper Curry like 422 to 111.
- 10:33SPEAKER_01: Like, you know, and as you said, they've got shooters.
- 10:35SPEAKER_01: The day I uh was watching them, the fastball in.
- 10:38SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and it's Cochel Fleming, Cochle Henry, and uh Matthew Walsh.
- 10:41SPEAKER_01: Matthew Walsh, yeah, yeah, up there, and then John Henry, again, all these names, right?
- 10:44SPEAKER_01: Johnny Johnny Kelly.
- 10:45SPEAKER_01: Kelly, sorry, Johnny.
- 10:46SPEAKER_01: So like just like in midfield, Adrian McIntyre, these kind of guys all around, and and Barry Walsh, our player of the week one week.
- 10:52SPEAKER_01: So yeah, so yeah, so again, as you said, you didn't see this coming.
- 10:54SPEAKER_00: But that's pretty strong players, yes, that you're after naming out there, right?
- 10:58SPEAKER_00: And if you can get other guys filling in around that, like you had Ryan Bailey kick six points to last yeah, you have his brother there, Tom playing the other wing.
- 11:08SPEAKER_00: You know, he's lovely, lovely footballer as well, and then so that's right good players all over the field.
- 11:14SPEAKER_00: Usher Kennedy there, like another fellow that has intercounty player before, and you get another one or two.
- 11:21SPEAKER_01: That's it, and we and we and Kennedy came on and got a great two-point two as well.
- 11:24SPEAKER_01: So, like there's just again, uh yeah.
- 11:27SPEAKER_01: I I'm I'm looking I'm really looking forward to uh I was hoping I because every weekend I don't know if we're gonna get a game to comment here, but I was like, well, bring it to the must be good.
- 11:33SPEAKER_00: And then you go to the flip side of that with Malash Gales, which was um three weeks ago now.
- 11:38SPEAKER_00: We were doing the game out in uh Battle Moore against Drumcliffe, and you know, as we said, that game was over 20 minutes to go, and then they bounced back, they really did like and you know, to draw Killer the last day in a game that didn't really have a huge effect on either of them getting to the quarterfinal, they were both more or less assured of a place in the quarterfinal, but they got players on the field like Casserley coming back, still no sign of Luke Taui playing.
- 12:05SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and that's uh that's a you've been saying that that that would be a huge addition if they can go back.
- 12:09SPEAKER_00: He's one of the best players in the county, like you know what I mean.
- 12:11SPEAKER_00: Like on him coming into a team, no matter who it is, whether it's Sligo's intercounty team or whether it's your Milash club team, he will make a huge, huge difference.
- 12:18SPEAKER_00: Like, you know.
- 12:19SPEAKER_00: So if they decided last weekend that we're not taking a risk on him in case he gets a setback with his injury in a game that we don't really need to be winning or losing any of because we're already assured of a quarter final place, whereas this weekend now it's knockout football, as we mentioned, have to get him on the field.
- 12:36SPEAKER_00: If he's 10 or 15 minutes, that could be the difference, have to get him on the field.
- 12:40SPEAKER_01: Again, that time was it was Alan McLaughlin and Luke Cassidy came on against Drumcliffe, and you could just see it kind of lifted the tide a bit.
- 12:46SPEAKER_01: And again, it was they've been part of the late scores in some games as well, like in that, you know.
- 12:50SPEAKER_01: And just to recap on their results, if people have forgotten the first game, like they they did Transey ski 321 to seven points.
- 12:56SPEAKER_01: Uh, then it they lost to sorry, they beat, I should say, Colani Molabrina 116 to 17.
- 13:01SPEAKER_01: Uh, they did lose to Drumcliff 319 to 14.
- 13:04SPEAKER_01: Again, that was a game.
- 13:04SPEAKER_01: Now, maybe by the end of the season we'll go look at there was only two teams in it, maybe Drumcliffe and Shamrock, but like uh still all to play for, and then as I said, the last year was kind of another game of draw in bad conditions in that.
- 13:15SPEAKER_01: Yeah, so yeah, it's uh there's two very evenly matched semi-finals.
- 13:19SPEAKER_00: There is like so you're talking about like uh Adrian McIntyre, huge player in the middle of the field for Torestran, like a player that's a huge player for Melash Gales, Joe Keeney in the middle of the field, right?
- 13:31SPEAKER_00: Like he's he's a guy that a few years ago he was best player at Sligo under 20 level, and for whatever reason he hasn't kicked on and made it at the Sligo senior setup when everybody thought that he was going to, and whether that's down to management or himself, that's not for us to decide, you know.
- 13:46SPEAKER_00: But the last couple of games in championship, he's you know, he's really stood up to the plate, he really has.
- 13:51SPEAKER_00: Like even that night against Drumcliffe, when things weren't going well, he brought the fight to them and he was contesting balls in the air, he was getting up, he was getting scores, he got a score the last day against uh Colera out in Castle Connor.
- 14:02SPEAKER_00: You know, he's a big, big boy, and he'll take a bit of minding, and then he has Kean Nicholson there hovering around the midfield as well.
- 14:09SPEAKER_00: You have Paul Flynn, you have Aaron Lang, that's three fellas that played Sligo in their 20s during the year, you know.
- 14:16SPEAKER_00: So, like, they're no bad team.
- 14:18SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and it's not that long ago since they were in a county final.
- 14:21SPEAKER_01: Oh, definitely not, like, it's only two years.
- 14:24SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- 14:24SPEAKER_00: Definitely, like, and obviously they've they've lost a couple of of major players throughout the season to long-term injuries, but as I'm saying, like, there's Casterly back on the field there the last couple of games, Alan McLaughlin, obviously, there's another top player, right?
- 14:38SPEAKER_00: And if they were to get Taui on the field, so there's six or seven lads with inter-country experience that you know you're matching up with what Troy de Stran have, yeah.
- 14:48SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
- 14:49SPEAKER_00: And one cancel out the other and see where it goes.
- 14:52SPEAKER_00: And again, I'm telling you, it could be a finish on the day, we could be in for a long even commentating ourselves.
- 14:57SPEAKER_00: We better bring the biscuits in the team, you never know.
- 14:59SPEAKER_00: You never know.
- 15:00SPEAKER_01: You never know.
- 15:00SPEAKER_01: So, just for fun.
- 15:02SPEAKER_01: Uh, are you caught on two draws?
- 15:03SPEAKER_01: So St.
- 15:04SPEAKER_01: Mary's and Kalira first.
- 15:06SPEAKER_01: Oh, um, do you know what?
- 15:09SPEAKER_01: Like the draw on both of them is quite an obvious easy call.
- 15:12SPEAKER_01: It is, but let's let's for divine, let's pick.
- 15:14SPEAKER_01: Do you know what?
- 15:14SPEAKER_01: I'll go with a St.
- 15:15SPEAKER_01: Mary's win and a Touristran win.
- 15:17SPEAKER_01: And I was gonna say, just again, I've probably seen a bit more Touristran than Milash.
- 15:21SPEAKER_01: Like I would lean that way, and again, we're only having the crack.
- 15:25SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh, like we don't mind if we get it wrong.
- 15:27SPEAKER_01: No, no, no.
- 15:27SPEAKER_01: Yeah, yeah, it's all good.
- 15:28SPEAKER_01: But as I said, so Sunday, two o'clock in uh Caluni St.
- 15:32SPEAKER_01: Mary's versus Kalira Strand here.
- 15:33SPEAKER_01: Michael Duffy referee.
- 15:35SPEAKER_01: That's right, and then in Bonanadin Community Park, five o'clock uh on Sunday also St.
- 15:38SPEAKER_01: Melash Gales Touristran and Keith Henry's on that one.
- 15:40SPEAKER_01: And again, both on Sligo G A T V dot E, both on Ocean FM, and you'll be listening to us, commentate on the second one.
- 15:46SPEAKER_01: Again, uh, if you're watching this, wherever you're watching it, comment, interact with us, argue with us, we're enjoying the crack with it all.
- 15:53SPEAKER_01: And again, but we'll let you go on this one, and we will be back next week with a preview and semi-finals.
- 15:59SPEAKER_01: So it's coming ticking fast now, as you know.
- 16:01SPEAKER_01: So I'm looking forward.
- 16:02SPEAKER_01: So again, thanks to Eegis Men's who are and Reboot Fitness are main sponsors, and of course Sherlock's Butchers and uh Reese Sweat Happens, reset and recovery out on Tobaccurry.
- 16:10SPEAKER_01: Thanks for watching, thanks for listening in.
- 16:12SPEAKER_01: And again, don't forget if you do want to support us of what we're doing here and keep the show on the road, check out the links in our bio for our Patreon.
- 16:17SPEAKER_01: Or as I said, we have another option there you can click if you don't want to do Patreon where you can just donate a couple of euros to help us keep it going.
- 16:22SPEAKER_01: Thanks for watching, we'll see you next time.