Minor
championship set to begin
Following
the exploits of the Sligo minor team, the club scene is set to take precedence
with the Sligo Minor Football Championship kicking off this evening (Tuesday).
Split
into three tiers – Divisions One, Two and Three – the competition, as always,
promises to be extremely competitive and the added spice of county players
squaring off following their memorable run to the All-Ireland quarter-final
will add a dash of colour to the underage set-up’s marquee competition.
Division
One favourites St Mary’s begin their campaign with an away fixture against St
Molaise Gaels this evening at Monsignor Hynes Park. Interestingly, this tie
pits the Division One League winners (St Mary’s) against the Division One
Shield winners (St Molaise Gaels), and although the Ballydoogan-based side will
be regarded as favourites for this tie, and indeed the title – as they have
been in recent years – they are likely to face severe resistance throughout.
Both
sides are in group two of the draw, with Tourlestrane the third team.
The
other side of the draw sees neighbours Easkey and St Farnan’s face off on
Thursday evening at Castletown, Easkey. The home side have been promoted to the
top tier following an impressive capture of the Division Two league title,
while St Farnan’s reached the final of the Division One version last spring.
Tubbercurry/Cloonacool are the other side in this group, and will be formidable
opposition.
Division
Two is the largest tier with 12 teams involved. Split into four groups of
three, this promises to be an intriguing championship with all sides very
evenly matched.
The
opening round sees one of the form teams coming into the competition,
Ballymote, face off against Shamrock Gaels at Corran Park, Castleconnor host
Curry at Corballa, Enniscrone/Kilglass meet Drumcliffe/Rosses Point at Quigabar
and Bunninadden are at home to Eastern Harps.
All
of the above games are scheduled for Thursday evening with a 7pm throw-in time.
The other teams competing in this section but not in action this week are
Coolera/Strandhill, Calry/St Joseph’s, Owenmore Gaels and St Michael’s.
The
Division Three championship is made up of four teams who will play off in a
round-robin format. This opening round sees Geeevagh host St Patrick’s and
Coolaney/Mullinabreena travel to take on St John’s. These games are also fixed
for Thursday evening at 7pm.