MY CLUB: SLIGO RFC
Hamilton Park,
Strandhill,
Sligo
By DAIRE WALSH
IT has been a difficult start to life in Division 2C of the Ulster Bank League for Sligo RFC, with wins proving very hard to come by.
A change in coaching staff following their 45-15 home defeat against Kanturk on September 19 was also a disruption, but club captain Conor Mitchell feels that the extra games in the newly-restructured league will ultimately be a positive development for the Strandhill outfit.
“Yeah, I think it’s fair enough to say it’s been a difficult season. We started off with one coach, and then for whatever reason, we ended up changing coach only two games into the league season. The first four matches in the league, we shipped heavy defeats,” conceded Mitchell. “It is definitely a positive that we have a couple of extra home matches. Especially with the start we have, we’ve a bit more chance for revenge on a couple of teams that gave us a bit of a pasting at the beginning.”
A native of Navan, Co. Meath, Mitchell was appointed to the role of club captain at the beginning of this season. Through his father, he already had a close connection to County Sligo, and featured prominently at schools and club level prior to his arrival at Hamilton Park.
“This is my first year being club captain of Sligo. I’m originally from Navan. My Dad’s from just outside Sligo. I have close family from here, but I’ve been here for the last four years, and I now see myself as one of the senior members of the squad. Happy to take on that mantle this year.
“I would have played underage there (in Navan) with (Munster’s) Denis Hurley. Then I went to school in Dublin. I played for Belevedere College. I also played AIL for UCD for a number of years before finishing my studies.”
Prominent
With GAA and soccer being extremely prominent, Sligo, who field approximately 20 teams from underage up to adult level, often struggle when it comes to the recruitment process.
However, as Mitchell points out, the school system in the Yeats County is quite strong, and they are also eager to secure the services of players from neighbouring counties. “Sligo is probably most known for its soccer team, while Gaelic is making great strides as well. Rugby has probably been the poor cousin for the last number of years, but in saying that, you’ve two of the strongest schools in Connacht within the town as well. Summerhill were narrowly beaten last year in the Connacht Senior Cup final, and then the [Sligo] Grammar as well.
“You do have a strong history there of bringing young players through. It’s just trying to retain them as well, and we have. Then trying to go out into the other areas of Sligo, and trying to recruit players from those areas, and the surrounding counties as well. Such as north Leitrim and south Donegal,” he added.