The Sligo U20 footballers were last night honoured with a civic reception from Sligo County Council in the County Council Chambers
to celebrate their victory in the Connacht U20 football championships.
The reception was hosted by Cathaoirleach Councillor Paul Taylor, who was himself for many years a mainstay of the Sligo gaelic football team, first as a player and more recently as manager of the county team in 2018 and 2019.
Councillor Taylor was accompanied by Councillors Marie Casserly, Declan Bree, Martin Connolly, Thomas Walsh, Thomas Healy, Tom Fox, Martin Baker, Gerard Mullaney and Michael Clarke. Councillor Casserly's son Luke was a member of the successful U20 team.
In addition to members of the U20 squad led by captain Jack Lavin and their management team led by Dessie Sloyan, the reception was at attended by a number of members of the Executive of Sligo GAA led by Chairman Sean Carroll and Secretary Bernardine McGauran.
Speaking in response to Mr Taylor's comments welcoming the teams Mr Carroll said "It is a great honour to be invited here today for this Civic
Reception to mark the historic achievement of our county U20 footballers in
winning the Connacht Championship this year. This is Sligo’s first ever success
at this level and indeed the first Connacht title we have won on home soil in
history. When I think back to that evening many memories flood back…..the
tension, the frustration, the excitement and then the pure joy as Sligo people
got to celebrate together following a dramatic win.
Those moments and emotions I speak of are precious and it is
fitting that those who generated them are recognised here this evening. Long
before that glorious evening this journey started in schools, clubs, then
through to development squads, minor squads and up to late last year when this
group started to prepare in earnest for the 2022 season. I want to pay tribute
to the parents and club and county coaches who assisted these young men along
the road. Most especially I would like to thank Dessie Sloyan and his
management team who left no stone unturned to make sure these lads were as well
prepared as possible. That diligence manifested itself in the efforts of the
players who showed incredible resilience along their journey, not least on that
Connacht final evening when all seemed lost at one stage.
The GAA is rooted in the communities of this county as is
evidenced by this group of players and their management who hail from all
corners of Sligo. Sligo GAA has been delighted to partner with Sligo County
Council’s initiative to highlight all that our great county has to offer and
encouraging people to come back or relocate here. Some of the players here this
evening were part of one of the videos produced as members of the 2021 Connacht
minor winning team. We in Sligo GAA recognise the role we can play in this and
as an organisation will strive to improve and be a central part of “the Sligo
story” – Retaining and returning people in the county.
I’d like to thank Cathaoirleach Paul Taylor – himself a
former county football star and former senior county team manager – and the
County Council for this event this evening. Striving to be the best you can be
is a continuos journey, but it is important to mark the wins along the way with
occasions like this. I look forward to the future with much optimism when
hopefully additional successes can be brought to our county."